A brief history of the Peninsula
Isolated from the rest of Sydney by the deep waters and ravines of Middle Harbour and Cowan Creek, the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater region - often referred to simply lis the Peninsula - has its own unique character and history.
Prior to European settlement, the Peninsula was home to Aboriginal people , and the life and culture of those times is still evident in the rock engravings, middens and other cultural sites that can be found from Middle Harbour, North Head through to Broken Bay.
The name, "Manly", originated during Governor Phillip's first three days in Port Jackson (21-23 January ,1788) prior to the transfer of the First Fleet from Botany Bay, and derived from Phillip's description of the local Aboriginal men. However early contacts with the Aboriginal people were marred by incidents such as the abduction of Arabanoo, Bennelong and Colbee, the spearing of Phillip at Manly Cove and, most devastatingly, the outbreak of smallpox that decimated the indigenous community.
Rock engraving in Warringah (Warringah Library Local Studies) Much of the early documented history of the region was concerned with its survey according to European practices, with Meehan, Larmer and Govett making major contributions. Coupled with their efforts were those of the pioneer settlers, the period up until the 1850s seeing the expansion of farms along the coast and timber getting along the tree-lined ridges. The results of these endeavours were shipped from small jetties to the markets in Sydney town. Primitive roads and bridges were built over the lagoons and wetlands, some of these following tracks long used by the Aboriginal people. Rock engraving in Warringah (Warringah Library Local Studies)
With the discovery of gold in NSW and the improvement in economic conditions in the 1850s', Manly became the Australian equivalent of Brighton in England. Crowds flocked to the seaside resort of Manly, and Warringah and the area to the north became outer suburbs, providing foodstuffs from vegetable gardens, dairies and piggeries that dotted the landscape. Pittwater had a slightly greater independence because of its access to boats and ships and the trade that used the Hawkesbury River.
From primitive beginnings, the road and transport system developed from the 1900s onwards, centred initially on Manly and the ferry services to Sydney, with a tramline as far as Narrabeen. Local government came to Manly in 1877 and Warringah (which included Pittwater) in 1906.
However the lifting of bans on daylight swimming in 1903 could be said to be the most important step in the history of the Peninsula. From this time on the growth of surfing and board riding made the "northern beaches" a symbol of Australian life. Homes sprang up all along the beaches, as far as Palm Beach.
While Manly remained the main centre of activity through the 1920s and 1930s, the growth of residential areas to the north, shifted the centre of activities towards Brookvale and Dee Why, where we now have the major sports venue, the biggest retail centre and a concentration of service and distribution businesses.
Pittwater also became a major centre for boating and sailing. The construction and subsequent upgrading of the road bridges at The Spit and Roseville, coupled with the increase in car ownership, often to more than one per family, saw Manly lose its status as the transport hub for the Peninsula. Development also left the coastal strip for the hinterland and national parks such as Garigal and Kuring-gai Chase became more accessible. However, despite the greater mobility and accessibility - and the divisA Brief History of the Peninsula
Isolated from the rest of Sydney by the deep waters and ravines of Middle Harbour and Cowan Creek, the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater region - often referred to simply lis the Peninsula - has its own unique character and history.
Prior to European settlement, the Peninsula was home to Aboriginal people , and the life and culture of those times is still evident in the rock engravings, middens and other cultural sites that can be found from Middle Harbour, North Head through to Broken Bay.
Be However early contacts with the Aboriginal people were marred by incidents such as the abduction of Arabanoo, Bennelong and Colbee, the spearing of Phillip at Manly Cove and, most devastatingly, the outbreak of smallpox that decimated the indigenous community.
Rock engraving in Warringah (Warringah Library Local Studies) Much of the early documented history of the region was concerned with its survey according to European practices, with Meehan, Larmer and Govett making major contributions. Coupled with their efforts were those of the pioneer settlers, the period up until the 1850s seeing the expansion of farms along the coast and timber getting along the tree-lined ridges. The results of these endeavours were shipped from small jetties to the markets in Sydney town. Primitive roads and bridges were built over the lagoons and wetlands, some of these following tracks long used by the Aboriginal people. Rock engraving in Warringah (Warringah Library Local Studies)
With the discovery of gold in NSW and the improvement in economic conditions in the 1850s', Manly became the Australian equivalent of Brighton in England. Crowds flocked to the seaside resort of Manly, and Warringah and the area to the north became outer suburbs, providing foodstuffs from vegetable gardens, dairies and piggeries that dotted the landscape. Pittwater had a slightly greater independence because of its access to boats and ships and the trade that used the Hawkesbury River.
From primitive beginnings, the road and transport system developed from the 1900s onwards, centred initially on Manly and the ferry services to Sydney, with a tramline as far as Narrabeen. Local government came to Manly in 1877 and Warringah (which included Pittwater) in 1906. However the lifting of bans on daylight swimming in 1903 could be said to be the most important step in the history of the Peninsula. From this time on the growth of surfing and board riding made the "northern beaches" a symbol of Australian life. Homes sprang up all along the beaches, as far as Palm Beach.
While Manly remained the main centre of activity through the 1920s and 1930s, the growth of residential areas to the north, shifted the centre of activities towards Brookvale and Dee Why, where we now have the major sports venue, the biggest retail centre and a concentration of service and distribution businesses. Pittwater also became a major centre for boating and sailing. The construction and subsequent upgrading of the road bridges at The Spit and Roseville, coupled with the increase in car ownership, often to more than one per family, saw Manly lose its status as the transport hub for the Peninsula. Development also left the coastal strip for the hinterland and national parks such as Garigal and Kuring-gai Chase became more accessible. However, despite the greater mobility and accessibility - and the division into three local government areas - Manly, Warringah and Pittwater retain a sense of geographic and lifestyle unity to this day, a unity that is enhanced by an understanding of its historyion into three local government areas - Manly, Warringah and Pittwater retain a sense of geographic and lifestyle unity to this day, a unity that is enhanced by an understanding of its history