By the end of 2025, the beachfront site housing the relatively new but much-loved Alice Dumplings will look quite different as the developer, Fortis, plans to knock it down and replace it with a four-storey building wth underground levels.
It will be known as White Water once again.
“We have invested heavily in the architecture for White Water to complement and be sympathetic to the iconic beachfront location,” said Ed Eve, General Manager for Development NSW at Fortis.
“The award-winning project architects, Durbach Block Jaggers, have used a limited palette of beautiful materials.”
The dumpling house was always a temporary pop up.
In Fortis’ 2022 DA submission to Northern Beaches Council, they estimated the cost of work would be $11 million, and Ed tells us that the project is expected to have a value of $80 million upon completion.
While the developer boasts multiple projects in NSW and VIC, this will be its first one on the Beaches.
“Fortis was particularly attracted to the opportunity in Manly because of its status as a blue-chip suburb, aligning with our strategy of investing in prime locations.”
The plan is for the ground and lower ground levels to provide residents and visitors with food and beverage offerings, while the top two floors will be occupied by Fortis’ sister company, Pallas Capital. The first floor is currently for lease and Fortis’ is seeking a “blue-chip commercial tenant”.
But what happens to Alice Dumplings?
As the build is a knock down (to dig deep for the basement levels), Alice Dumplings tenancy ends in August 2024.
But before you cry over lost dumplings (Manly Observer readers give rave reviews of the place), fear not, Alice Dumplings will not abandon Manly.
In fact, the owner Henry Cai informs us they are moving up the street.
“The new spot is between Hotel Steyne and Hemingway’s, opposite the Pantry, where the old China Beach was. It’s being renovated and should be ready for us in June or July, latest August, when we have to move out of here,” he tells us.
This is good news, not only for dumpling lovers, but for that section of the beachfront which has been struggling to compete for attention with the busy-restaurant filled southern block.
Alice has some competition, however with a new dumpling house setting up shop on the former Lantern Fish site on Darley Road.
The new building…
Fortis promises to bring retail, hospitality and commercial tenants, similar to the ones at their Double Bay properties, which include Neil Perry, Baker Bleu and Restoration Hardware.
However, the biggest benefit this building brings to Manly is its access to Rialto Lane.
“Part of the Northern Beaches Council vision for Manly is to activate service laneways by providing connectivity to main thoroughfares,” Ed says.
“White Water will feature an accessway connecting the South Steyne beachfront to Rialto Lane.”
The access-way will hopefully increase foot traffic to local hidden gems, like the delicious carb-fuelled bakery Rollers.
Meanwhile on the Steyne, demolition is well underway on the huge redevelopment of the Royal Far West Hospital site, and plans are in the works for a new Manly Surf Life Saving Club nearby.
And, in contrast to all this major developement, some new owners down at Manly Beach Shack have shown their cards with good humour.
