Join a leisurely walk with a local tour guide and historian who will showcase the locations and buildings that have helped shape the beautiful Eastern Hill area of Manly.
Meet local historian and Manly enthusiast, Terry Gatward, outside the Manly Town Hall, conveniently located opposite the ferry terminal, for an introduction to the earliest colonial days of Manly.
Manly’s Eastern Hill was once a suburb of choice for Sydney’s gentry and businessmen. It still shows signs of some of the grand old homes and estates from 19th century settlement. Your walk will proceed along East Esplanade by the Harbour and through the area once known as ‘Brightside’. Continuing along Stuart Street and up to Addison Road, conceived as one of the main roads to service the area. The area was marketed as Clifton Heights when the subdivision plan for the Bassett-Darley Estate was devised in 1877.
Along the way your guide will make stops to point out the background of many of the original property owners, their properties, and their impact on the development of Manly. Pause outside Weemala, the 1886 house built for James Antrobus, a Sydney bank manager and investor, as well as the properties he built for his married daughters.
The locations of other old estates and houses that will feature on the walk are Kulnura, Calmar, Oyama, Uyeno, Elim, Merriwa, Wonga-Binda, Maybank and Hawthorn.
The tour will conclude with light refreshments at the Roast Office café on Darley Road. Until recent years it was the sub-Post Office for the residents of Eastern Hill.
Important event details:
- This is a relaxed-paced tour, featuring paved walk up the gentle incline from Manly to Addison Road, and the decline down Osborne Road back to Manly centre.
- Comfortable walking shoes, sun hat are recommended.
- Any dietary restrictions to be advised at time of booking.
- The cafe will provide light refreshments of tea/coffee and cake.
- Manly street parking is limited to 2 hours and fees apply after 2 hours in the Council carpark. Therefore, it is recommended to take public transport to Manly, which is well serviced by bus and ferry.
