Manly: Old hospital site to be opened up for picnics with a view

New plans for the old Manly Hospital site include a public park for picnics, a meal at a nice restaurant and magnificent views of the harbour that have been hidden away for a century.

Artist impression of how some of the original architecture at Manly Hospital will be retained including this memorial.

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The old Manly Hospital site at North Head has been reimagined to include a park where families can enjoy picnics, or go for a nice lunch at a restaurant, in draft plans now available for consultation.

The new public park will include walking trails which could lead to Collins Beach and will also unlock extraordinary harbour vistas that have been hidden away for more than 100 years.

Artist impression of how the old Manly Hospital site will look from an aerial perspective.

Manly state Liberal MP James Griffin said people will be able to experience Sydney Harbour in ways only previously available to hospital patients or visitors.

“In some sense this part of the harbour has been locked up for the best part of a century,” he said.

“And now it’s about to be unlocked.”

The draft masterplan for the five hectare site is being billed as a health and wellbeing sanctuary.

As well as being a place to escape to nature, there is a proposal to include a dementia care centre, possibly for inpatients, and preventive mental health services to work in partnership with Northern Beaches Hospital.

Other recreational facilities could include studios for yoga and pilates.

Other suggestions for use include senior housing and a childcare centre.

Artist impression of the new public park and open views of Sydney Harbour from the old Manly Hospital site.

One of the buildings could be for educational purposes for use by a university such as the International College of Management Sydney (ICMS), which has a main site on the other side of Darley Rd.

However, Mr Griffin said it could not be classed as a university campus, rather an educational space.

There could also be a function room, as well as neighbourhood retail space.

Mr Griffin said health services would be provided as part of a public-private partnership model, but users would be able to bulkbill.

Around 30 per cent of the current buildings are considered of heritage value and will be retained and renovated.

Draft masterplan for the old Manly Hospital site. Picture: Supplied.

And, an old brick gateway which is often missed and has been hidden by weeds will be made into a focal point.

An eight bed palliative care unit for young adults next to the proposed site is already underway and will be integrated into the site.

However, anything proposed for the majority of the old hospital grounds needs to be approved by Northern Beaches Council.

Mr Griffin said the draft masterplan was now open for public consultation until August 19.

Once the consultation period is over, the views will be taken into consideration a development application lodged.

To see the plans click here:

https://www.property.nsw.gov.au/former-manly-hospital-site?fbclid=IwAR3CmFlU3KjRdJ4uXL3AHmBLg9FSaT1aI0opdcO_oOdfc1PSAcTZWs_gCZc