Manly Wharf: Iconic northern beaches dining mecca and pub set for makeover after mega sale

Manly Wharf, which has evolved into a popular dining and entertainment hub, is set for another makeover after it was sold for $80m. See what is planned for the iconic Sydney site.

The long-tern leasehold of Manly Wharf was put up for sale in December last year and has just sold for $80 million to a Brisbane-based hospitality developer. Picture: CBRE

Manly Wharf is set for a makeover after Brisbane-based tourism developers bought the iconic site for $80 million — along with an adjoining pub.

The men behind the redevelopment of the popular historic Howard Smith Wharves (HSW) hospitality precinct in Brisbane, say they looking forward to “breathing new life” into the Manly location.

They want to turn the wharf into a “family friendly, sustainable and cultural entertainment precinct”.

Details of the purchase of the leasehold to the wharf, home to some of the seaside suburb’s favourite eateries — including Hugo’s and Queen Chow — and the popular Manly Wharf Hotel, were released on Wednesday evening.

Adam Flaskas, founder/director of the Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane, said he was looking forward to “providing a family friendly, sustainable and cultural entertainment precinct” at Manly Wharf. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

HSW founders and directors Adam Flaskas and Paul Henry have paid $80 million to the former Wharf leaseholder, eastern suburbs-based property developer Robert Magid, who bought the lease to the then down-at-heel wharf in 1995.

At the same tine they have paid more than $30 million to take over Ben May’s Manly Wharf Hotel, on the eastern end of the wharf complex.

The historic Howard Smith Wharves, underneath the Story Bridge in Brisbane, have become a prime hospitality location. Picture: Howard Smith Wharves

Mr Flaskas and Mr Henry have been credited with making the historic wharves under Brisbane’s famous Story Bridge into one of the northern capital’s top destinations.

HSW hosts a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars as well as spaces for events.

It also has a boutique luxury hotel and accommodates a microbrewery — Felons — which has its own eatery and bar.

Howard Smith Wharves, showing the Fiume Bar at the Crystalbrook Vincent boutique hotel. Picture: Tourism and Events Queensland

Mr Flaskas, who is currently overseas, has hinted in a statement that significant changes were on the way for Manly Wharf.

“We’re looking forward to deeply connecting with the Manly community and providing a family friendly, sustainable and cultural entertainment precinct, offering the freshest, highest quality produce to the local community and visitors of Manly Wharf,” Mr Flaskas said.

“Manly Wharf is a vibrant and much-loved location for locals and visitors from across the globe.

“We’re passionate about creating dining and entertainment destinations that bring diversity of food, music, and community together.

“We look forward to connecting with the Manly community to create places they love to visit, harnessing the essence of one the country’s most iconic locations.”

Mr Flaskas said HWS had been recognised nationally for its sustainability and recycling achievements in Brisbane and “we’ll continue to cultivate this work in Manly.’

The Felons microbrewery at the historic Howard Smith Wharves, underneath the Story Bridge in Brisbane. Picture: Howard Smith Wharves

“With such incredible history in the area, we’re excited to embark on this new journey, breathing new life into such an iconic site.”.

HSW has also confirmed that workers would be retained at the Manly Wharf Hotel during the ownership transition

Mr Magid’s company TMG Developments turned the historic wharf, built in 1855 and owned by Transport for NSW, into a dining and entertainment hub.

It now has about 20 tenancies including the former site of the German supermarket giant Aldi closed its doors in September last year.

The sale also comes after the NSW Government announced plans to upgrade wharf 3, adjacent to the pub.

In 2016 Mr Magid announced that he wanted to make the ferry gateway into Australia’s premier waterfront destination as part of a then $9m makeover. That transformation included top floor restaurants with floor-to-ceiling views and outdoor dining.

Mr Magid said he was nostalgic about the sale of Manly Wharf.

Former Manly Wharf owner Robert Magid transformed Manly Wharf after he secured the leasehold in 1995. Picture: Martin Lange

“It was one of our first property purchases. We purchased it from receivers. It was built back to front with the back to the harbour; tenants not paying their rent.

“We redesigned the wharf, took advantage of the amazing location, added a floor and brought in some excellent tenants.

“We are delighted that we have sold the wharf to such a focused, imaginative and competent team and wish HSW to take the wharf to an international stage.”

Simon Rooney, from Property agents CBRE, which organised the sale said the wharf was a recognised international landmark that had attracted “significant interest from various international and domestic parties”.

The man behind the construction of the first wharf at Manly was the founder of the suburb – Henry Gilbert Smith – who applied to the state government in August 1855 for permission to build a wharf at Manly.