Northern Beaches Council is investigating handing over use of Manly's historic town hall building to the private sector in a bid to get theatre and exhibition space plans off the ground. The 85-year-old building has been far less utilised since Manly Council merged into Northern Beaches Council and plans to turn the space into a lively community hub were subsequently cancelled after a feasibility study found it too costly. The partially redacted feasibility study – prepared in 2023 by Scott Carver Pty Ltd, Networked Urban Solutions and Hawkridge Entertainment Services – advised against activating the space as a multi-use performance and exhibition venue, citing it as a high-risk venture. The proposal included a flexible 350-seat space, 100-seat theatre and 80-seat cinema. The report states that demand for a...