Manly Daily celebrates 110 years service to the community
The Manly Daily is celebrating 110 years today. As part of the anniversary, we’ve put together some of the major events that we’ve covered over that time.
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- GALLERY: Manly Daily front pages from the past 110 years
- Manly Daily history: The little paper that grew to greatness
THE Manly Daily is celebrating 110 years today.
And true to our original promise, the northern beaches has continued to grow over the past 11 decades.
The Manly Daily has been there for every major moment in our community.
From World Wars, to major infrastructure advancements and even the formation of the Peninsula’s iconic surf clubs, your local paper has been there through it all.
Here’s 110 of the newspaper’s most memorable moments.
1.The Manly Daily was founded (1906).
The Daily was established by local printer Edward Lincoln, who continued publishing the newspaper until ill-health forced him to pass it to Jo Trenerry.
2. Warringah Shire Council was formed (1906).
Manly Council had been incorporated in 1877 but the rest of the peninsula remained unincorporated until the formation of Warringah Shire Council following a Local Government Commission into unincorporated lands in NSW.
3. Manly and North Steyne surf clubs were formed (1907).
Manly Surf Club withdrew from active lifesaving after Manly Life Saving Club was formed in 1911.
There are now 21 surf clubs on the peninsula, playing a vital role in protecting swimmers and providing social and sporting activities for people of all ages.
4. The first flight of a heavier-than-air machine (1909).
The first flight took place at Narrabeen Beach with an aircraft made and piloted by George Taylor.
5. Tram line opens
The tram line between Manly and The Spit was opened, connecting Manly with the punt crossing Middle Harbour (1911).
A punt at The Spit had been in operation since the 1850s.
6. Manly to Brookvale
The tram line between Manly and Brookvale was opened (1910).
The tramline linked the outlying suburb of Brookvale with what was then still the hub of the northern beaches – Manly.
7. Brookvale to Dee Why
The tram line was extended from Brookvale to Dee Why and Collaroy just as those areas were being made available through the subdivision of land previously owned by the Salvation Army (1912).
8. Collaroy to Narrabeen linked
The tram line was extended from Collaroy to Narrabeen, opening up more areas for subdivision (1913).
But residents of areas further north, who had been promised tram lines to Church Point and Newport, were disappointed because the tram line was never extended further north than Narrabeen.
9. The Great War
World War I broke out (1914).
Despite promises from politicians and military leaders that the war would be over by Christmas, it dragged on until November 1918, claiming the lives of more than 60,000 Australian servicemen and women.
10. Influenza outbreak
The influenza pandemic arrived in NSW (1919). More than 6000 people in NSW died as a result of it, along with more than 40 million people worldwide. The quarantine station at North Head was filled with those suffering from the disease.
11. Shipwrecked
The Myola foundered off Dee Why with the loss of four lives, highlighting the risks involved in the so-called Sixty-Mile run between Newcastle and Sydney undertaken by small steamers (1919). It was not the last Sixty-Miler to come to grief off the peninsula.
12. Building bridges
The Roseville Bridge opened (1924). Prior to the opening of the bridge in September that year, the only way of travelling from the northern beaches to the city had been via Mona Vale Rd to the North Shore, by crossing Middle Harbour by punt or by ferry from Manly.
13. The Paris Olympics (1924)
Almost all of Australia’s medals, including all three of its gold medals, were won by four young men from Manly – swimmers Andrew “Boy” Charlton and Ernest Henry, diver Dick Eve and triple jumper Nick Winter. The fact the manager of the Australian team, Ossie Merrett, was also from Manly was icing on the cake as far as locals were concerned.
14. Transport changes
The Spit Bridge was opened (1924).
The bridge was opened in December and, because The Spit was now connected to Manly by a tram line, it radically altered transport patterns on the northern beaches.
But the bridge had a failing – there was no provision for trams to cross it, so commuters had to alight from the tram on one side of the bridge, walk across the bridge and then board another tram to continue their journey.
15.Manly Art Gallery opened (1930)
The gallery had its genesis in an art competition organised by the Manly Daily and the subsequent lobbying of Manly Council by local residents for a local art gallery.
16. Drought relief
A water pipe was laid between Pymble and Beacon Hill (1930).
The pipe overcame the problem of a long drought and the inadequacy of Manly Dam to supply the peninsula’s need for water.
17. Manly District Hospital opened (1931)
Manly had previously been served by the Manly Cottage Hospital at the top of Raglan St and by a number of small private hospitals.
With the opening of the Northern Beaches Hospital due in 2018, the future of Manly Hospital remains uncertain, although the State Government has guaranteed the land will only ever be used for health of environmental purposes and will never be developed for housing.
18.The Manly harbour pool was opened (1931)
The pool, which was paid for by the Port Jackson and Manly Steam Ship Company to increase tourism to Manly and patronage of its ferries, was the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and a huge tourist attraction for Manly.
19. The Sydney Harbour Bridge opened (1932)
Nothing changed the travelling patterns of peninsula residents more than the opening of bridge affectionately called The Coathanger, which provided employment for thousands at the height of The Depression and lifted the nation’s spirits by its grandeur.
20. Shark meshing began off Sydney’s beaches (1937).
There had been fatal shark attacks at North Steyne and Dee Why in 1934, one at North Narrabeen in 1935 and another at South Steyne in 1936.
Despite its apparent success in preventing more fatal attacks at Sydney’s beaches, the meshing program has also been responsible for the deaths of thousands of marine animals.
21. World War II broke out (1939).
The war eventually claimed the lives of more than 27,000 Australian servicemen and women. The War Veterans Village at Collaroy Plateau was opened in 1939.
Prior to the war, two massive guns were installed at North Head, radar stations were installed coastal and defences were established along the northern beaches and in Pittwater.
22. The Manly tramway system ended (1939)
The system was superseded by buses and the shortcomings of the Spit Bridge, which trams couldn’t cross.
23. Three Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour (1942)
One of the midget submarines fired a torpedo that exploded against the seawall at Garden Island, sinking the converted ferry Kuttabul and killing 21 sailors.
The raid by the subs and subsequent shelling of several suburbs was the only time Sydney has been attacked and sent a shiver up the city’s spine, as well as exposing shortcomings in its defences.
24. The Wakehurst Parkway was opened (1946).
The road was named after the recently retired NSW Governor, Lord Wakehurst.
There have been repeated calls over the years to widen and floodproof the road, especially since the announcement of a new hospital at Frenchs Forest.
25. Submarine on display
The former Dutch submarine K12 was placed on display at a purpose-built berth off the front of the Manly harbour pool (1946). The K12 ran aground at Fairlight while she was being towed to calmer waters during a storm in 1948.
26. Sea Eagles join first grade
Manly-Warringah rugby league team was admitted to the first grade competition (1947).
27. The London Olympics (1948).
The first post-war Olympics and the first since 1936 featured two local men – boxer Bill Barber and water polo star Jack King.
28. Architecture award:
The Top Dog factory at the intersection of Warringah, Pittwater and Harbord roads at Dee Why was awarded the Sulman Award for architecture. The building was designed by John Spencer.
29. Landmark light installed
The Blinking Light was installed at the intersection of Warringah Rd and Wakehurst Parkway (1952). The light quickly became a local landmark.
30. Birchgrove Park sinks
The Birchgrove Park sank off Barrenjoey Head with the loss of 10 lives (1956). The ship was the last of the Sixty-Milers lost off the peninsula.
31. The Melbourne Olympics (1956).
The first Games held in Australia attracted national attention. Local swimmer John Devitt won gold and silver medals.
32. New Spit Bridge, same story
The new Spit Bridge was opened (1958).
The shortcoming of the new four-lane concrete and steel bridge immediately became obvious – traffic was brought to a standstill every time the bridge was opened to allow boats to pass.
33. Shopping centre opens
The Totem shopping centre at Balgowlah was opened (1959). The shopping centre was the first of its kind on the northern beaches.
34. Our own Miss Beauty
Manly’s Tania Verstak was crowned Miss International Beauty in 1962. Tania Park at Balgowlah Heights was named in her honour.
35. Gruesome murder
Bond boy Graeme Thorne was kidnapped and killed by Clontarf resident Stephen Bradley and his body was dumped at Seaforth (1960).
36. Mall a mainstay
Warringah Mall opened at Brookvale (1963). Over the years the centre has undergone repeated upgrades and expansions and is by far the largest shopping complex on the peninsula.
37. Liberal to independent... then back
State Manly MP Douglas Darby was a Liberal, but moved away to contest the 1962 and 1965 State Elections as an independent Liberal.
It came after he unsuccessfully stood for the Liberal leadership twice and failed. He then lost preselection for Manly in 1961, forcing him to resign from the party.
However, he gained the seat as an independednt, eventually being readmitted to the Liberal Party in 1966.
38. Our first surfing champ
Bernard “Midget” Farrelly won the inaugural world surfing championship at Manly (1964). Since then, local surfers have continued to shine, with both male and female surfers winning multiple world titles.
39. Mona Vale Hospital was opened (1964).
Despite concerns the hospital would close after the new hospital at Frenchs Forest opens in 2018, other medical services have been allocated to the site.
40. The first hydrofoil was introduced on the Manly to Sydney run (1965).
Called the Manly, the 72-seat vessel had limited success due to its small size and regular mechanical problems.
41. Collaroy gets a Premier
Collaroy MP and Manly resident Bob Askin became premier of NSW (1965). Mr Askin (later Sir Robert) served as premier until 1975 but his reputation was tarnished by allegations of corruption.
42 Vietnam War
The first Australian combat troops were committed to the war in Vietnam (1965). Military advisers had been in Vietnam since 1962. By the time the last troops left, 521 had been killed and more than 3000 wounded.
43. Dee Why Library won the Sulman Award for architecture (1966)
The brutalist structure was designed by Colin Madigan.
44. The Blinking Light at Frenchs Forest was replaced by traffic lights (1966)
The replacement of the Blinking Light saw the loss of a local landmark but highlighted how busy the intersection had become.
45. Decimal currency
Decimal currency was introduced to Australia (1966). Pounds, shillings and pence were replaced by dollars and cents.
46. The new Roseville Bridge was opened (1966)
Unlike its cousin downstream at The Spit, the new Roseville Bridge has proved adequate to the task.
47. Manly gets a governor
Manly war veteran and diplomat Sir Roden Cutler VC became governor of NSW (1966). Sir Roden went on to become NSW’s longest-serving governors.
48. Warringah Council gone
Warringah Shire Council was sacked following the jailing of two councillors for bribery (1967). It was the first of three occasions on which the council was sacked.
49. Warringah Council back
A new Warringah Council was elected after being under administration for 20 months (1968).
50. Munich Olympics
The Munich Olympics were overshadowed by the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and a West German policeman (1972). Four locals competed at the Munich games – diver Ken Grove and water polo players Nichol Barnes, Peter Montgomery and Michael Withers.
51. Eagles are premiers
The Manly-Warringah Rugby League team won its first premiership (1972). The team defeated Eastern Suburbs 19-14. The Sea Eagles have since won another seven premierships and have never won the wooden spoon.
52. Civic hub opens
The Dee Why Civic Centre opened (1973). The old shire hall at Brookvale was not demolished until 1978.
53. More traffic lights
The 1000th set of traffic lights in NSW was switched on at the intersection of Pittwater Rd, Harbord Rd and Warringah Rd by Premier Robert Askin (1974).
54. Huge seas lashed the coast over several weeks, (1974).
Called the Sygna Storm, it threatened buildings along the coast and inside the harbour and demolished the Manly harbour pool.
55. Sydney Harbour National Park was gazetted (1975).
The areas incorporated in the new national park included parts of North Head and Dobroyd Head.
56. Legal nudity
Nude bathing was declared legal at Reef Beach by Premier Neville Wran (1976). The issue remained a sore point between nudists, residents and politicians for the next 20 years.
57. Teen abducted
Avalon teenager Trudie Adams was abducted and presumed murdered (1978). Her disappearance has haunted the northern beaches ever since.
58. Olympic boycott ignored
Northern beaches swimmers Lisa Forrest and Georgina Parkes ignored prime minister Malcolm Fraser’s call for a boycott and competed at the Moscow Olympics (1980).
59. Church opens
C3 Church Global, formerly Christian City Church, opened its doors at Oxford Falls (1982). The church in Australia had been formed at Dee Why in 1980.
60Lynette Dawson disappeared from her Bayview Heights home (1982). Her body has never been found. Her husband was suspected of killing her but has never been charged.
61. Manly Ferry
The first of The Freshwater-class Manly ferries entered service (1982). The Freshwater was followed by the Queenscliff, Narrabeen and Collaroy.
62. Last torpedo
The Taylors Point torpedo station fired its last torpedo (1983). The RAN established the base in 1941 to test the firing ability, accuracy and range of torpedoes before they were deployed for use in submarines.
63. The former quarantine station was added to Sydney Harbour National Park (1984).
The Q-Station, as it is known today, is leased by the Mawland Group and operated as a conference, function and accommodation centre by Accor Hotels.
64. Warringah dismissed... again
Warringah Council was dismissed a second time amid allegations of bribery and local dissatisfaction with the handling of development applications at Palm Beach and Mona Vale (1985). The council was placed in administration for 16 months.
65. Restaurant wins award
Zachary’s Restaurant at Terrey Hills won the Sulman Award for architectural excellence (1985).
66. Theatre opens
The Glen Street Theatre opened as stage 2 of the Forest Community Centre (1985). The theatre has recently been upgraded.
67. Fairligh murder
Megan Kalajzich was murdered in her Fairlight home (1986). Her husband Andrew was later convicted of conspiracy to murder.
68. Satelite station opens
The Overseas Telecommunication Corporation’s satellite earth station was opened at Oxford Falls (1987). The OTC and Telecom were later merged and the organisation is now called Telstra.
69. New Warringah elected.
A new Warringah Council was elected after being under administration for 16 months (1987).
70. Home and Away
Home and Away began filming at Palm Beach (1988).
The TV series has proved popular as a soap opera and the set has become a tourist attraction in its own right.
71. Bicentanary
The bicentenary of the white settlement of Australia and the founding of Sydney was celebrated (1988).
Thousands thronged North Head and Dobroyd Head to watch the entry through the Heads of the Tall Ships.
72. Walkway opens
The Manly to The Spit Scenic Walkway was officially opened (1988).
The ceremony at North Harbour Reserve marked the completion of the walkway, which was built in stages by Manly Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
73. Circumnavigation
Pittwater resident Kay Cottee became the first woman to perform a single-handed, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the world (1988).
74. Jetcat enters
The first jetcat, the 250-seat Blue Fin, entered service (1990). It was quickly followed by the Sir David Martin and the Sea Eagle, both of which seated 279 passengers.
75. Pittwater Council forms
Pittwater residents voted to secede from Warringah and a provisional was council installed (1991). Warringah residents had no say in the matter.
76. Garigal gazetted
Garigal National Park was gazetted (1991). The national park is in two parts, separated by Forest Way, and includes areas around Middle Harbour and areas around Narrabeen Lagoon.
77. Last of the hydrofoils
The last of the hydrofoils was retired from the Manly run (1991). Jetcats continued to operate the fast ferry service between Manly and Sydney.
78. Council elections
The first Pittwater Council was elected (1992). Although the early years of the council were troubled, it soon found its feet and in 2001 won the Bluett Award.
79. Forty injured
A veranda collapsed at a Kangaroo Rock concert in Manly and 40 teenagers were injured (1993).
80. Destructive fires
Bushfires ravaged large swathes of the northern beaches and destroyed several homes (1994). The worst-hit areas were Elanora Heights, Ingleside and the western side of Pittwater.
81. Anna Wood
Anna Wood, 15, died after taking the drug ecstasy at a rave party (1995). Although it was later determined she had died from the effects of water intoxication secondary to the use of ecstasy, Anna’s death sparked widespread debate about the use of drugs by young people.
82. Woman dissapears
Paula Brown, of Manly, disappeared from Darlinghurst and was found murdered at Port Botany a week later (1995). A man suspected of her murder died of a suspected drug overdose in 2005.
83. The North Head School of Artillery was closed (1997).
The school was moved to Puckapunyal in Victoria. The North Head site was later transferred to the care of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
84. The State Government announced the Warriewood Valley land release (1997).
Development of the valley continues to the present day.
85. Skier wins bronze
Manly skier Zali Steggal won bronze in the slalom at Nagano, Japan – Australia’s second winter Olympic medal (1998).
86. Plane crash
A light plane crashed into a hill near Berowra Waters, killing all five on board (1998).
The operating company was Aquatic Air, trading as South Pacific Seaplanes. The plane had taken off from Palm Beach.
87. Palmy Ferry
The Palm Beach Ferry Service inaugurated a service between Palm Beach and Ettalong. (1999). The service was subsequently extended to include Wagstaff.
88. Cave collapse
Four young Frenchs Forest men died when the snow cave they had dug for themselves in the Snowy Mountains collapsed (1999).
Brothers Scott and Paul Beardsmore, Tim Friend and Dean Pincini had left Thredbo to hike into Mt Kosciusko’s wilderness for a three-day snowboarding and camping expedition.
It was three months before their bodies were found after the snow thawed to reveal the mouth of the snow cave.
89. Water Polo
North Curl Curl water polo player Debbie Watson captained the Australian team that won gold at the Sydney Olympics (2000). Other local gold and silver medallists included beach volleyballer Kerri Pottharst, swimmer Chris Fydler and sailors Jenny Armstrong, Belinda Stowell, John Forbes and Darren Bundock.
90. Nine paralympians
Nine athletes from the northern beaches represented Australia at the Sydney Paralympics, winning 11 medals between them (2000).
91. Supercats replaced
The ill-fated supercats were introduced to replace the increasingly-unreliable jetcats (2000). The supercats weren’t up to crossing the Heads, so the jetcats were re-engined.
92. Charity opens
Bear Cottage at Manly was opened (2001). The hospice is the only children’s hospice in NSW and one of only two in Australia.
93. Car hits childcare centre.
Sophie Delezio and Molly Wood, both two years old at the time, were badly injured when they were trapped under a burning car that crashed into the Roundhouse childcare centre at Fairlight (2003).
94. Third time a charm for Warringah
Warringah Council was sacked for a third time and placed under the administration of Dick Persson (2003).
95. Sub found
A group of recreational divers found the missing Japanese midget submarine off Bungan Head (2006).
The sub took part in the raid in Sydney Harbour in 1942 but escaped from the harbour. Its whereabouts had remained a mystery ever since.
96. Celebs married
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were married in the Cerretti Chapel adjacent to the former St Patrick’s Seminary at Manly (2006).
97. Hospital announcement
The new hospital at Frenchs Forest was announced (2006). The hospital is due to open in 2018.
98. Warringah re-elected
A new Warringah Council was elected after being under administration for five years (2008).
The mayor when the former council was sacked, Julie Sutton, was re-elected to the new council.
99. Jetcats no more
The jetcats were withdrawn from service (2008). Early in 2009, Manly Fast Ferry took over the run.
100. State steps in
Currawong was purchased by the State Government (2011). The purchase ended a long battle by locals to preserve the site on the western shore of Pittwater and prevent it being developed.
101. Keli convicted
Fairlight woman Keli Lane was convicted of killing her infant daughter Tegan in 1996 (2011).
102. B-Line
The newly-elected Coalition State Government announced a bus rapid transit (BRT) system linking the northern beaches and the city (2011).
The BRT was later rebranded as the B-Line.
103. Prime Minister
Warringah Federal MP Tony Abbott became prime minister by defeating Kevin Rudd (2013).
104. Premier
Manly MP Mike Baird became premier of NSW following the sudden resignation of Barry O’Farrell (2014). Mr Baird was subsequently re-elected premier in his own right the following year.
105. Royal approval
The Duke and Duchess of Camridge and Prince George visit Manly during a surf carnival-themed event (2014).
106. Roadwork reveal
The massive roadworks accompanying the construction of the Northern Beaches Hospital were revealed (2014).
The most controversial aspect was the expansion of Warringah Rd to 12 lanes, including a below-ground “slot” and demolition of businesses at the corner of Warringah Rd and Bantry Bay Rd.
107. Lagoon trail finished
The Narrabeen Multi-Use Trail was completed, providing a pedestrian and cycleway around the lagoon that has proved very popular (2015).
108. Speaker
Mackellar Federal MP Bronwyn Bishop was appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives (2013).
The Choppergate scandal led to her resignation as Speaker in 2015.
109. Abbott toppled
Warringah Federal MP Tony Abbott was toppled as prime minister by his own party (2015). He was replaced by current prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
110 Councils merged
Manly, Warringah and Pittwater councils were merged to form Northern Beaches Council (2016). Former Warringah administrator Dick Persson was appointed to oversee the council until a new council is elected in September next year.
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