Manly Stories

The Little Boy from Manly was a national personification of NSW and later Australia.
Created by cartoonist Livingston Hopkins of the Bulletin in April 1885.

Swimming in daylight hours before 1902 was illegal. In 1902 this law was openly defied by a male swimmer (William Gocher) who entered the water at Manly Beach in midday. He was arrested but no charges were laid, and subsequently 'surf bathing' became a popular past time.

Manly Markets
http://www.manlymarkets.com.au/farmers/gallery.htm
Weekly produce markets, link to website inc. a gallery

Market Lane Mural

"Murals are a very economical way of bringing some vibrancy to an otherwise neglected area that can do with a splash of colour"..

Ruth Downes was commissioned to create a mural for Market Lane in 2005.

The lane is subject to frequent graffiti attacks and needed something to cover the dark and gloomy walls. The mural was made up of bright colours and old news headlines taken from the Manly Daily between 1920's and 2005. Some headlines include; "Ferry Runs Aground" - 1955, "First Car Across Spit Bridge" - 1924, "Plaster Gnomes Kidnapped" - 1984. It's a shame they didn't commission a designer to help with the typography..

Feiko Bouman and 'Manly Civic Centre'

The council held a design contest and Bouman's design for the new library won.

He wished to set a new standard for the future development and design of Manly

The building has a variety of spacial qualities, scale and vigorous sculptural presence
Intended to offset the back-lot, forgotten, hidden location.
In terms of Manly streets the site is hidden, considered a 'back water'.
THOUGH
'has some affinity with the often admired encloused urban spaces prevalent in many older European cities

His design existed strongly around existing pedestrians patterns within the space

PAVED AREA
Obejectives:
A major public space, Market Place, as the focus of existing pedestrian arcades
The restoration of a desirable urban street scape.

Pavement over a dedicated major sewer easement reg. 6 meters high > part of foyer area
Paved the pedestrian forecort and allocated service vehicle access only
Paved all areas to extend pedestrian zone - though half is now demolished and car park


DESIGN
Distinct, in contrast with 'mundane' urban environment
Mural for childrens story telling area
'Complex communicates variety, within the theme objective of a harmonious resolution'

CLOCK TOWER AND FIRE STAIR
'Marker' off setting the rear lane location factor (no longer relevant cant see it)

LIGHTING
Open, no awnings off buildings
Lighting at night to make it feel safe

Library Archives Research

On Tuesday afternoon Diana, Brittany and I visited Manly library to access their archives on Market Place.

Some of the key history:

1855 - Created?
It has existed since the earliest plans drawn up for Manly by Henry Gilbert Smith.
He envisaged that there would be a lane running parallel to the Corso which would be used for market

1900 - Markets Shut down
'Inspector of Nuisances' - shut down the operation of markets in the area due to
- Unsanitary business
- Offal
- Rotting fruit and veg
- Straying horses

1908
Proposal adopted by Manly council to erect fruit and produce markets in the Lane, supporting and highlighting some of the history of the site.

20th C
Market lane became home to small enginering companies and garages.

1995
Market Place (formally Market Reserve) opens new library
Library designed by Feiko Boumann, including paving area for a 'bustling piazza'

1997
Manly Council approves open air markets at Market Lane and Sydney Road intersections on weekends and public holidays
'To revitalise the town centre and backing of the Chamber of Commerce'

2005
'A rear entry service lane subject to frequent graffiti attacks'

Mural proposed in July 2005
Ruth Downes - sculpture and artist, to be commissioned by council
'Mural would brighten up drab lanes'

Now

Images

The Clock Tower is an important part of the Library[...]this structure is integral to the design, functioning & safety of the existing Library. [Feiko 2008]

"The Clock Tower is an important part of the Library. To suggest it’s removal, is ignorance and wasteful of rate payers money: this structure is integral to the design, functioning & safety of the existing Library.
As well as iconic urban marker it is a fire escape stair and would need to be replaced within the existing complex at great expense/destuction/disruption.
It is incredible to me that Council has endorsed this ridiculous idea as “the winning concept”.
I am the architect for the existing Library building, which was built as Stage One of a master plan for both triangular sites surrounding the car park.
The 2 triangles:
The existing Library building was designed to link with “the other triangle” i.e. the bitumen covered continuing urban blight adjoining to the south - this is the triangle requiring urban repair.
Not ill-considered waste of public money, currently promoted in the paper by Council, destroying the much loved Clock Tower & mature trees.
Encourage store owners to enhance laneway frontages, however, avoid the cringing fantasy references to “Melbourne-style hubs”.
My more detailed objection can be obtained from the GM and Councillors"

Bouman, F 2009, Manly triangle revamp plan, The Manly Daily

History of the Library/Space

The Space
Is known as both, Market Place and the Triangles

Manly Library
Designed by architect Feiko Bouman in 1995, but has existed since 1950's.
Was built for the library, in the Market place. So the market place existed first?
Intended to transform back alleys into a 'bustling piazza'

The Bricks
'The manly library trust' is the funding arm of Manly Library, comprised of a group of local residents.
The 'buy-a-brick' campaign is the most successful and popular activity. Donations of $110 donate a library and an inscribed brick is placed in the 'forecourt' in return.
'A great contribution to MARKET PLACE'. highlight the library's place in the community





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