Iconic building overlooked Manly Cove for more than 80 years

For more than 80 years Earls Court was one of Manly’s most iconic buildings, overlooking Manly Cove, the wharf and the giant harbour pool.

For more than 80 years Earls Court was one of Manly’s most iconic buildings, overlooking Manly Cove, the wharf and the giant harbour pool before being demolished in 1989.

In its heyday, Earls Court was the height of fashion and good taste and during the influenza pandemic in 1918-19, it even advertised the fact that rooms were fumigated daily and the establishment even had its own fumigation room for luggage.

Earls Court was built at the corner of West Esplanade and James St in 1906 and an advertisement in the Manly Daily in September 1907 stated:

“Earls Court is a fashionable residential palace at Manly and is conducted along Continental principles. The points of vantage at Earls Court are: All the bedrooms are large, airy and well furnished. The linen blankets and bedding are of the finest description that money can buy, while each bedroom as a telephone. Ladies’ and gentlemen’s lavatories are on each floor. The guests at Earls Court have the free use of the balconies and flat roofs, from which a splendid view of the harbour and the ocean can be obtained. The restaurant is the most charming dining room in Australia and will seat 200 persons, private dinners or banquets being specially catered for. There is a large drawing room and smoking room on the first floor. Accommodation is provided for motor cars and bicycles. The boat fares (by yearly ticket) are less than tram fares to any suburb in Sydney. Earls Court is like Eden Studios – everything of the best quality at bagatelle rates.”

An advertisement for Earls Court in the 1930s

In 1910, Earls Court, under the proprietorship of a Mr Carden, was advertised as having 60 balcony rooms, nine bathrooms, electric light and excellent cuisine.

In September 198, Edward Waller advertised the fact he had purchased Earls Court and a block of land at the rear of the property.

In modest style, he advertised in the Manly Daily:

“E.D. Waller has much pleasure in announcing to the public that, having purchased Earls Court, he is having the whole establishment entirely altered, renovated and refurbished in high-class, artistic and thoroughly modern fashion with the objective of making Earls Court one of the most palatial as well as comfortable homes for visitors in the state. No expense is being spared in this direction and Earls Court (which is now closed for alterations) will be open to receive visitors at the end of the month. He has also purchased the land at the rear of the building, which will converted into a tennis court for guests.

“All the rooms are electrically lighted, with every modern comfort and convenience, and the establishment will be found an added attraction to Manly.”

Perhaps Waller’s modesty was his undoing because by the middle of November 1918 Earls Court and the small block of land at the rear were offered for sale.

Earl's Court in July 1986

The advertisement for its sale described Earls Court has having a drawing room, dining room, 17 bedrooms, linen room, three bathrooms and a kitchen on the ground floor, 21 bedrooms, three bathrooms, a linen room and offices on the first floor, and 21 bedrooms and three bathrooms on the second floor, while the basement contained garages and storerooms.

In late December 1918, Earls Court was advertised as being under the new management of the proprietresses, the Misses Skeyne, who said the establishment would be “conducted on lines similar to a first-class hotel”.

By January 19129, however, the hotel was being advertised in the Catholic Press as St Francis’ Private Hotel (late Earls Court) under entirely new management, when it advertised the fact it had special fumigating rooms on the premises and that personal effects could be fumigated daily.

Given that the influenza pandemic killed between 20 and 40 million people, access to fumigation would have been an attraction to many.

Earl's Court in July 1986

The hotel continued to be advertised the Catholic Press as St Francis’ Hotel throughout 1919, after which it reverted to Earls Court.

Earls Court was in the news for the wrong reason in September 1920, when a thief got in through an open window and stole clothing and jewellery from several boarders.

Over the years Earls Court appears to have had a procession of proprietors.

By June 1923, the proprietress was a Miss Turbet, who was victim of a con woman who tricked her out of several days’ board, and by 1927 the proprietors were listed as Garner and Turbet.

In December 1928, Earls Court was again targeted by a thief, who made off with jewellery worth £200 that belonged to a visiting New Zealand woman.

The Manly Windsor Plaza Hotel in 1992

As the decades past, Earls Court lost some of its lustre and by the 1980s was well past its prime, having gone from being an opulent hotel to a boarding house, while still retaining much of its character.

In 1986 the owner of Earls Court was given permission to demolish the building after being told by architects that it would be cheaper to demolish and rebuild it than to renovate it.

By the time Earls Court closed its doors in late 1987, there were 16 permanent residents, many of them aged pensioners.

But there were still a few twists and turns in the history of the hotel, with development consent granted and then lapsing, an appeal to the Land and Environment Court, a campaign by local residents to save Earls Court for its history and the affordable housing it provided, and a change in ownership.

Earls Court was demolished in 1989 and in late 1990 construction began on the building that replaced it – the Manly Windsor Plaza Hotel – which opened in 1992.