Gone are the days of rebellious wharf jumps and dangling our feet over the open wharf as we eat takeaway and watch the fish below on the West Esplanade side of Manly Wharf. Enter the era of stools and safety.
Manly Wharf is in the midst of significant change following its purchase of $110 million by Artemus Group in 2023. So far, we’ve seen restaurants such as Queen Chow and Bavarian get the boot after the expiration of their leases, as the Felons brand expands its reign.
The most recent development from the new Manly Wharf management team is the installation of railings, seating, and tables along both sides of the wharf (Wharf 1 and 3).
While the Wharf 3 side has had seating for a while now, Wharf 1 was more a casual no man’s land where the public might enjoy a burrito and a sunbake.
It was also a spot for the young and foolhardy to perform leaps of faith into the depths below, a rite of passage for many growing up, to the dismay of local authorities.
Now, in its place are seats and railings. While we were initially informed of the change via some angry reader texts, and one email declaring it the “blatant and quite disgusting commercialisation of every centimetre of space on the wharf,” when we popped over three times for a random poll from the community the feedback was “it’s pretty good, actually”, since the new seats are open for general public use.
Maddy and Laura have been visiting the Wharf for years and were admiring the new set up before we asked for their two cents.
“I think it’s good. It’s making use of the view. I mean, one of the best perks about Manly is sitting, having a beer, watching the water,” Maddy said.
“It’s changed, but it looks like it’s a good change,” Laura added. “There’s still plenty of places for people to kind of fish and dangle their legs off the edge.”
A couple, Matt and Jess, shared they often visit the area to enjoy their breakfast Guzman Y Gomez burritos, and the new seating perfectly accommodates this meal practice. While another younger local said the layout offers the perfect space for her to work.
“Yeah, love it here,” she expressed, “I can come here and work from my new office!”
We further found locals Kiara and Ben also enjoying breakfast on the bench, and while they shared the same gleeful sentiment towards the seating arrangement, they also had empathy for youths no longer able to use the site as they once did, once upon a time.
“It’s definitely nice for the older crowd. I think being younger ourselves, coming here all the time, and jumping off here was really fun. And I guess it would sort of take away that for younger kids… But, I mean, you’re not really allowed to do it anyway, so I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore, and it’s a lot nicer. I think they’ve done really well,” Kiara related.
“It’s nice,” Ben agreed, “But again, what Kiara said, it’s just like for the older crowd and not really for the younger crowd. But yes, it’s not bad.”
With the recent confirmed removal of Manly Waterworks, and the closure of Sea Life, there seems an ever-dwindling list of options for anyone under 18.
What are the rules?
Although the new Wharf seating has a privatised vibe, the Transport for NSW land is still open to everyone in the public at all times, Wharf Management says. Patrons are able to order off the Felons Seafood menu, but those with their own food are just as welcome to eat and enjoy at the space.
Ollie, a beachy young fella we caught checking out the set-up, stated he thought the new concept could work, if they stay true to the wharf aesthetic.
“I like the rustic look to it,” he said, “as long as they keep the original look of the wharf and don’t try and do anything too fancy, then I think it’s great… I’d like to see it become a really cool precinct.”
While a young family passing by shared the new addition of furniture, “seems to suit the location,” the real point of interest was the expansion of Felons.
Artemus Group, the architect behind the Felons brand and wharf management decisions, is not in their first rodeo with Manly Wharf. They have had experience curating Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves with the Felons brand (A location Manly Observer visited and enjoyed), which seems to be the blueprint for Northern Beaches.
We’ve already seen the previously dubbed ‘Wharfy’ transition to a Felons, with the Bavarian now a Felons Seafood. Though the old Manly Wharf seems to be losing its diversity, the new concepts being introduced have family appeal.
This summer, the Wharf Management team will be unveiling a beer garden and kids’ play area to the side of Felons, a new event space and brewery, a restaurant, and a fish and chips shop. And with quite a literal breath of fresh air, new upstairs public bathrooms (where Aldi was previously located) are set to replace the dank carpark facilities within 6-8 weeks.
In a decision that is rarely made by establishments, pokies are also set to be abolished in Felons and will be replaced with another bar area.
With many new plans for the precinct on the horizon, rapid change is fast becoming the norm. Though, one only has to look at old pictures of Manly Wharf throughout the decades to see she rarely stands still.
Construction work on Felons beer garden and kids play area.
See our video story on this issue:
https://youtube.com/shorts/i97lhCNWizw?si=Pk3DFV6k90LCHsbI
