www.youtube.com/@stpeterscooksriver1873/playlists Check out our play list.The videos are grouped such that, whenever possible those that are geographically close are together.
Most interesting to appreciate the history of the suburb and surroundings areas of Manly. It should be compulsory viewing for the children at school in the area, to give them a sense of pride to the history of where they live and a belonging and maybe, contributing to Manly's future. Very well done - as always and thank you for a grand effort. BRAVO ZULU!
Thanks for the compliment, BRAVOZULU, Those of our viewers who are familiar with police cars with two way radios and ships which used signal flags should get it. Otherwise ‘Google is a great place to start. As for your other comment, that our videos, or at least the Manly one, should be compulsory viewing for school children. In the two years we have been creating the videos, we have had no teacher approach us, as to using a video in school, neither has any teacher left a comment, that they are using the videos in school. That doesn’t mean they are not using the video, just that we are not being acknowledged. Some of the view counts in smaller suburbs, might suggest that is the case. We of the older generation may well have to accept that there is a younger generation who have rights but have little in the way of obligation. I can say this because RUclips Analytics tell me that no one under the age of 45 is watching our videos. This has made life easy for us in that we have an audience who are capable of meaningfully stringing together words in sentences, which are not only lucid, but at times humorous, thought provoking and on topic. As for connecting with schools, the creator of the videos, spent her working life teaching in primary schools. We live in an area, which is the background for a well known children’s book. We have taken schoolchildren from many of the suburbs of Sydney on tours of the area associated with the book. That all came to an end when we were overwhelmed by road works, and we were unable to negotiate, sometimes as many as 120 children along our narrow streets. Along with that came the bulldozing of the houses that were an essential part of the story. Did we entertain the children of our local schools? In a period of many years perhaps twice. Yet we would have as many as the aforementioned 120, descend upon us from the outer suburbs, who were not only respectful but enthusiastic with their teachers equally so. Shortly after Covid came, and so went our involvement with the community, no more local history walks or talks to community groups throughout the suburbs. Apart from two talks, one to a History group on a local historical identity. We dressed the part, and found people, laughing, attentive and horrified by the way our subject treated his gardener’s boy. As usual, we use two voices, with me on this occasion quoting from a diary and impersonating. The other talk to a group of ten, a Baptist church senior’s group, was where for the first , and so far only time, we did live, two of our videos. The reward for us on this occasion was, the memories of the past, from people who had grown up in the are and had experienced the changes, which we could only fleetingly refer too in our talk. In a perfect world, it would be nice if our local council, libraries, would promote us, and perhaps if we should be less afraid of Facebook and other social media, but this is our reality. We shall continue to do what we do. So please continue to leave comments, such that we can have a deeper understanding of our Sydney suburbs.It is what keeps us going.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thank you for your reply, which again I found most informative and bewildered to lack of empathy some of the younger people may have, with the passion you put into your presentations. I know we are both singing from the same 'hymn page', with your comments. I am sincerely looking forward to your next video which will only make me a more wiser man, knowing more about this great place and country we live in. With Facebook and it's contents and cult following it has, I liken to when a clown talks. An example is that there four Warren Hunt's that went to James Cook Boys' High School on Facebook, and done of those people are me. So who are they? Surely I am not the only one. I glad you understood the phonetic meaning of BZ. Keep going with what your doing because your brilliant in what your doing. It is with kind, Regards Warren Hunt BM, CSM
We are getting back to you, not because you left a complimentary comment, but rather you might be aware as to why our video on Manly has stalled, and appears to be going nowhere with regard to numbers of views. This was based on our thinking that the people who view our videos, apart from being substantially over the age of forty five, can be placed in three categories. That is they live in the area, they have lived in the area, and they know the area for they play or work, or have played or worked in that area. One can only add one more thought, that the community is on either a road, rail, or river link, which people pass through. I hope now you can see, why we were very optimistic as to capturing viewers from Manly. That just hasn’t happened, and one can only reflect on ourselves having last visited Manly in, I think 1990. That the creator is challenged by sea voyages, is only part of the answer. As for your thinking that, it ought to be in every school. We do live in hope, particularly as we learn today of changes in education in New South Wales primary schools. I shall say no more, trusting that you may have a wisdom on Manly.
I grew up in Manly and loved every minute of this. I learnt quite a lot from it. I even saw a couple of photos of the house I grew up in that I had not seen before. It was on Raglan St., near the Presbyterian Church opposite the oval. Manly has always been a special place for me, one of the safest surf beaches in Australia, much safer than Bondi. I remember the old Amusement Pier and Aquarium on the wharf. As kids we used to climb under the wharf and peak up at the aquarium and you could see the fins of the sharks going by. Great fun. Thanks for doing these. Keep up the good work.
We regret to say that it is only now that we have noticed your comment, usually we receive notification. Your remarks make what we do worthwhile, and I hope others will enjoy them.Does the your opening remark, “I grew up in Manly,” indicate you are no longer a resident. I think it was a 2017 census comment, which stated that none of the present residents who were living in Manly at that time, had parents that lived there. It still challenges us as to, which suburbs have populations with a strong sense of identity, and when where and what provides a sense of nostalgia that many feed off. Is it only something for the over forty five year olds?
It’s awful to think about the terrible acts of historical vandalism committed over the years with the demolition of such beautiful and important pieces of Australian architecture....really wonderful to see none the less, thank you for these informative clips Sue and Michael 🧐🙂
We started out with the great hope that Manly would provide a substantial number of views, after all every one in Sydney has crossed the harbour by ferry to Manly. We also thought we had provided an entertaining video, showing the changes, particularly in the entertainments that were once peculiar to Manly and how popular they were. As a migrant one of my first delights were the Jazz Festivals in the 1970s. It’s only recently that we’ve begun to see views on the Manly video increase. Searching census details for I think 2016, we noted that of the residents had a parent who had lived in Manly. This becomes more relevant when RUclips Analytics tell us that the most popular sections of our videos are for the period 1900- 1975, which we think relates to the period grandfather to grandchild. Our viewers are for the most part over forty five, and 80% are male. I like you, had a great feeling of wanting to journey into Manly’s past, and delight in all that it had to offer, but no great to desire to visit the present. Was the slogan “ ….. from Sydney and a thousand miles from care”. I’m on your side. Thanks for your comment.
A recommendation for those who return to a specific video searching for a particular point of interest. Use “precise seeking” use your finger, stylus or cursor to drag the red line at the bottom left of your screen to the right. You should then see small but very clear pictures of what is being played on the RUclips video. After finding the picture you want, play it, or use “pinch and zoom” on a touch screen to enlarge the image for more detail. This you do by spreading or contracting the distance between your thumb and index finger whilst touching the image on the screen.
Perhaps as early as tomorrow you will see our latest video on line, “Rosebery,” surprisingly to us, a designed industrial suburb. Following that we shall present “Fairfield City,” something which, like yourself, stems from a request from a viewer. Then, the Creator having given it some thought, is intent on doing “Barrenjoey Peninsula, which of course will include, Newport. Good to note, your watching of Manly, we were initially disappointed with the watch numbers, but after a few months, we are quite happy with its growth. We still wait to see the same growth in our video on North Sydney. Thank you for your interest. I hope we haven’t disappointed with our response to your request.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thanks for the response. I was born and bread at Bungan Beach. Lived at 10 Karloo Parade between 1965-1995. Now I live in Thailand, but my brother still lives in Manly. I was was there a few months ago, at Easter. I'm a retired Cop, from Redfern, so it's lovely watching your videos and reminiscing. Thank you. Looking forward to your expose' on the Northern Beaches. Greetings from Thailand.
A question for our viewers. Why have our most popular RUclips videos been on, Kingsgrove, Glebe, Parramatta’s an historical time line and discovering history, Manly, Ryde and Concord. We would like to hear your views, particularly if you are a resident, employed in the area, or were either of these in the past. We looked forward to having many viewers for our Manly video, but until lately it just did not happen. As one who used to take the ferry to attend the Jazz Festival, we believed every one would want to spend a nostalgic moment remembering Manly’s past. So why this surge now in viewers, and why we ask are you watching?
Wow. What a tour de force. Bit stuck for words. "Congratulations" is a good start! Have to absorb this one, and watch it again. A couple of things resonate immediately, however, in that I'd hazard a guess that few people living in Manly today would know of its rich and colourful history. It's not as though Manly developed through the decades as one pedestrian, mundane change into another. This makes way for the second thought ... that the suburb was identified as a playground for residents from other suburbs (happy for that to be corrected). That identification - drawn from your work to have been initially envisioned by Henry Gilbert Smith - followed its earliest vision (in terms of European Settlement) as both a village and an outpost for the unfortunate and infirm. What I guess I'm trying to say here is that Manley (sic) was a distant destination and not within the mainstream evolutionary pattern of Sydney's growth. So instead of it being essentially another residential suburb it became a day-trip destination of festivity and play. I think that makes it highly unusual. Your exposé on, from memory, New Town is comparable in a way, with the difference being that human creativity seemed to drive New Town's attraction: skating rinks and cultural activities, whereas Manly seemed more about rides and so forth, that is, the man made. Interesting, then, that Manly moved into the mainstream in terms of development, being more residential and self-sustaining (the reservoir signifies this, too) and now most if not all of the sheer playfulness is lost. What also stands out is how brutal and shortsighted development, in general, has proven to be, as these magnificent buildings are wiped from history in a rush for the new. I reckon that's very sad. Would love it if a British-heritage historian might help shine on a light on that point, perhaps as answer to the question: Would English development have been so quick to wipe out its buildings of note? But personal musings aside, it's a powerful work you've created. The central features remain strong in my memory: the Corso, a bustling avenue of cosmopolitan (such as it was then) interest in its own right, with ginormous pine trees at the end as a grand landmark celebrating the location of its ocean beach. But the wharf was of unusual interest: the bold old ferries' shoving their props into reverse would send all sorts of stuff swirling up towards the beach. As a kid I would queue, gingerly walk the narrow moving plank, and get on for a return trip to Circular Quay. You got what could possibly be the best harbour cruise in the world, a full and fascinating hour and a half, for a song. But you had to hide in that little enclave up front where they stored some floats and unusued things lest the guard (of some sort, or ticketmaster or ticket-checker) chucked you off the Quay. Congratulations again. Awesome achievement.
As one of the people responsible for creating the Manly video, I’d like to comment on the above. The strange thing about trawling through pictures, and contemporary details from newspapers and Sand’s directories, plus checking the voracity of other people accounts, is that until you have completed the work you don’t know what you’ve got. This is particularly true of our efforts for we have no particular political or social axe to grind. On watching for the first time, and having a rough cut script read aloud to me, my reaction was of a sense of loss, as to the what has featured in Manly ‘s past. I would substantially agree with the above comments. Though yesterday, I talked to someone who, now in his seventies, remembers going on holiday to Manly, (not a day trip). The creator’s childhood was indelibly stained on a trip to Manly with her father on a very small ferry. He was en route to play cricket on Manly oval. A squall struck up and waves came pounding over the side. Still after so many years that anxiety remains. As for me my memories are so much more recent. Simply delighting in listening to the jazz musicians at the Manly Jazz Festival. I’m just a little envious, of the larrikin childhood of our above contributor, but console myself, in that taking the Manly ferry is something I have in common with thousands if not millions, and it all began in the 1830’s!
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Interesting isn't it how the passing of even a small passage of time alters how we perceive what we create. I expect dedicating one's thoughts to the (accurate) work you do would result in quite a revelation once the video is finished. Each is quite a narrative. So too if extrapolated to months and decades passing, incremental change, too, such as the loss of a building here and another there, might have an accumulative effect go unnoticed until it's far too late. I'm not so sure it's 'political', or an entirely political topic (the loss of wonderful buildings). I'm not so sure Australia has a culture to protect, far less an architectural heritage culture. On the larger, overall culture, or lack of, you may be interested in the latest book by Anna Clark, just out now. A review published yesterday is here: www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/13/hows-this-for-a-beginning-the-tricky-work-of-writing-the-story-of-australian-history The idea, for instance, that the 'Australian culture' is exemplified or encapsulated by the ANZAC troops, which has often been considered a substitute for an actual 'Australian' culture, is now being rather quickly eroded. This for many reasons, three of which are the sheer youngness of Australia's 'settled' existence, mass multiculturalism, and the grandness both historically and spiritually of our First Nation's people. We could add a fourth: that the youthful European Settled element has no right of its own to actually call the "this is our culture" shots. Without that definitive, cohesive societal culture it's all the more easy for one grand piece of architecture, a poingnant piece of history, to be bulldozed away. This is not so much a criticism as an observation. Heaven help us if we make a stamp as to what the 'Australian Culture' is until we truly reconcile our place together. Moreso, I think, it's cause for the younger people to take hold of and take note -- it's [a definitive culture] theirs to look forward to. Unfortunately, until this sense of identity is resolved and grown stronger, it will (still) largely be acts of protest that determine whether an old building stays, whether history is kept. But, yes, Manly seems particularly to have suffered very significant loss. As an extension of the above, sophisticated communities worldwide are planning (very politically potent and active) to recapture the qualities of the "village". But that's another story. It's mentioned though because it is a magnificent development in city planning, one, though again sadly, Australia will have to wait several decades to see arrive on our shores. Happy to expand upon further if you wish. Really what we're talking about with Manly, in historical terms, though, is charm. Charm and play. If I take your response correctly, it is that someone didn't quite enjoy a Manly ferry trip. Many probably don't, not only when it's rough, seeing it as a time-taking 'thing that must be done', as in 'put up with'. But I'd hazard another guess in that these are in the minority: that most do, to this day, love being on the ferry. It really is a world-class delight. You get the familiar along with the changing. For who didn't ever marvel at another ferry approaching, the 'return trip' coming towards you, growing ever larger, to thrumb on past at the same place every time. And the Hydrofoil exploding into view then past in a hull-exposing skip-and-glide. Something a little personal for the fun of it. The rougher, for me, the better. Depending on the vessel, you could get right up front on some, the very bows. There, out in the deep, across the face of the harbour entrance, you could swing, what, thirty feet high? Then plunge into the trough, looking, for that delicious two seonds, into the green deep of the sea. If it was even a bit rough, if you didn't get yourself drenched, the trip on return ensured you had to be ever more diligent in leaning over the precarious side. Just fantastic. Years later, I made sure to engage a spotter, who worked in an office floors-up in the CBD. He'd slip me a phone call when, from there, he could see the ferries were crashing sideways, or over. The goal then was to not get a speeding ticket in the rush to get on one -- preferably the last prior to them calling a stop. On the inside leg, seeing its sister ferry out across the face, if you caught sight of her propellor you grinned wickedly for the small and similar group, drenched and wild with the thrill, at her bows. Empathetic joy was good enough. Lovely painting for the thumbnail, not incidentally. 'swell.
@@lukecasey3480 Luke, I feel I have to report that your joy and delight, in viewing our video on Manly, does not appear to be something you have in common with the residents or for that matter, any other people. Why Manly has stalled in viewer numbers, that is the question? I think we have discussed off line, what our thinking has been regarding how we choose a new suburb. If you could read the comments above that we have sent to Warren Hunt, on this Manly comments page, and perhaps, if you have a wisdom respond, that would be appreciated.
www.youtube.com/@stpeterscooksriver1873/playlists Check out our play list.The videos are grouped such that, whenever possible those that are geographically close are together.
Most interesting to appreciate the history of the suburb and surroundings areas of Manly. It should be compulsory viewing for the children at school in the area, to give them a sense of pride to the history of where they live and a belonging and maybe, contributing to Manly's future. Very well done - as always and thank you for a grand effort. BRAVO ZULU!
Thanks for the compliment, BRAVOZULU, Those of our viewers who are familiar with police cars with two way radios and ships which used signal flags should get it. Otherwise ‘Google is a great place to start. As for your other comment, that our videos, or at least the Manly one, should be compulsory viewing for school children. In the two years we have been creating the videos, we have had no teacher approach us, as to using a video in school, neither has any teacher left a comment, that they are using the videos in school. That doesn’t mean they are not using the video, just that we are not being acknowledged. Some of the view counts in smaller suburbs, might suggest that is the case. We of the older generation may well have to accept that there is a younger generation who have rights but have little in the way of obligation. I can say this because RUclips Analytics tell me that no one under the age of 45 is watching our videos. This has made life easy for us in that we have an audience who are capable of meaningfully stringing together words in sentences, which are not only lucid, but at times humorous, thought provoking and on topic. As for connecting with schools, the creator of the videos, spent her working life teaching in primary schools. We live in an area, which is the background for a well known children’s book. We have taken schoolchildren from many of the suburbs of Sydney on tours of the area associated with the book. That all came to an end when we were overwhelmed by road works, and we were unable to negotiate, sometimes as many as 120 children along our narrow streets. Along with that came the bulldozing of the houses that were an essential part of the story. Did we entertain the children of our local schools? In a period of many years perhaps twice. Yet we would have as many as the aforementioned 120, descend upon us from the outer suburbs, who were not only respectful but enthusiastic with their teachers equally so. Shortly after Covid came, and so went our involvement with the community, no more local history walks or talks to community groups throughout the suburbs. Apart from two talks, one to a History group on a local historical identity. We dressed the part, and found people, laughing, attentive and horrified by the way our subject treated his gardener’s boy. As usual, we use two voices, with me on this occasion quoting from a diary and impersonating. The other talk to a group of ten, a Baptist church senior’s group, was where for the first , and so far only time, we did live, two of our videos. The reward for us on this occasion was, the memories of the past, from people who had grown up in the are and had experienced the changes, which we could only fleetingly refer too in our talk.
In a perfect world, it would be nice if our local council, libraries, would promote us, and perhaps if we should be less afraid of Facebook and other social media, but this is our reality. We shall continue to do what we do. So please continue to leave comments, such that we can have a deeper understanding of our Sydney suburbs.It is what keeps us going.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thank you for your reply, which again I found most informative and bewildered to lack of empathy some of the younger people may have, with the passion you put into your presentations. I know we are both singing from the same 'hymn page', with your comments. I am sincerely looking forward to your next video which will only make me a more wiser man, knowing more about this great place and country we live in. With Facebook and it's contents and cult following it has, I liken to when a clown talks. An example is that there four Warren Hunt's that went to James Cook Boys' High School on Facebook, and done of those people are me. So who are they? Surely I am not the only one. I glad you understood the phonetic meaning of BZ. Keep going with what your doing because your brilliant in what your doing. It is with kind,
Regards
Warren Hunt BM, CSM
We are getting back to you, not because you left a complimentary comment, but rather you might be aware as to why our video on Manly has stalled, and appears to be going nowhere with regard to numbers of views. This was based on our thinking that the people who view our videos, apart from being substantially over the age of forty five, can be placed in three categories. That is they live in the area, they have lived in the area, and they know the area for they play or work, or have played or worked in that area. One can only add one more thought, that the community is on either a road, rail, or river link, which people pass through. I hope now you can see, why we were very optimistic as to capturing viewers from Manly. That just hasn’t happened, and one can only reflect on ourselves having last visited Manly in, I think 1990. That the creator is challenged by sea voyages, is only part of the answer. As for your thinking that, it ought to be in every school. We do live in hope, particularly as we learn today of changes in education in New South Wales primary schools. I shall say no more, trusting that you may have a wisdom on Manly.
I grew up in Manly and loved every minute of this. I learnt quite a lot from it. I even saw a couple of photos of the house I grew up in that I had not seen before. It was on Raglan St., near the Presbyterian Church opposite the oval. Manly has always been a special place for me, one of the safest surf beaches in Australia, much safer than Bondi. I remember the old Amusement Pier and Aquarium on the wharf. As kids we used to climb under the wharf and peak up at the aquarium and you could see the fins of the sharks going by. Great fun. Thanks for doing these. Keep up the good work.
We regret to say that it is only now that we have noticed your comment, usually we receive notification. Your remarks make what we do worthwhile, and I hope others will enjoy them.Does the your opening remark, “I grew up in Manly,” indicate you are no longer a resident. I think it was a 2017 census comment, which stated that none of the present residents who were living in Manly at that time, had parents that lived there. It still challenges us as to, which suburbs have populations with a strong sense of identity, and when where and what provides a sense of nostalgia that many feed off. Is it only something for the over forty five year olds?
good job
It’s awful to think about the terrible acts of historical vandalism committed over the years with the demolition of such beautiful and important pieces of Australian architecture....really wonderful to see none the less, thank you for these informative clips
Sue and Michael 🧐🙂
We started out with the great hope that Manly would provide a substantial number of views, after all every one in Sydney has crossed the harbour by ferry to Manly. We also thought we had provided an entertaining video, showing the changes, particularly in the entertainments that were once peculiar to Manly and how popular they were. As a migrant one of my first delights were the Jazz Festivals in the 1970s. It’s only recently that we’ve begun to see views on the Manly video increase. Searching census details for I think 2016, we noted that of the residents had a parent who had lived in Manly. This becomes more relevant when RUclips Analytics tell us that the most popular sections of our videos are for the period 1900- 1975, which we think relates to the period grandfather to grandchild. Our viewers are for the most part over forty five, and 80% are male. I like you, had a great feeling of wanting to journey into Manly’s past, and delight in all that it had to offer, but no great to desire to visit the present. Was the slogan “ ….. from Sydney and a thousand miles from care”. I’m on your side. Thanks for your comment.
A recommendation for those who return to a specific video searching for a particular point of interest. Use “precise seeking” use your finger, stylus or cursor to drag the red line at the bottom left of your screen to the right. You should then see small but very clear pictures of what is being played on the RUclips video. After finding the picture you want, play it, or use “pinch and zoom” on a touch screen to enlarge the image for more detail. This you do by spreading or contracting the distance between your thumb and index finger whilst touching the image on the screen.
You couldn't do the same for Newport could you? Thanks.
Perhaps as early as tomorrow you will see our latest video on line, “Rosebery,” surprisingly to us, a designed industrial suburb. Following that we shall present “Fairfield City,” something which, like yourself, stems from a request from a viewer. Then, the Creator having given it some thought, is intent on doing “Barrenjoey Peninsula, which of course will include, Newport. Good to note, your watching of Manly, we were initially disappointed with the watch numbers, but after a few months, we are quite happy with its growth. We still wait to see the same growth in our video on North Sydney. Thank you for your interest. I hope we haven’t disappointed with our response to your request.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thanks for the response. I was born and bread at Bungan Beach. Lived at 10 Karloo Parade between 1965-1995. Now I live in Thailand, but my brother still lives in Manly. I was was there a few months ago, at Easter. I'm a retired Cop, from Redfern, so it's lovely watching your videos and reminiscing. Thank you. Looking forward to your expose' on the Northern Beaches. Greetings from Thailand.
A question for our viewers. Why have our most popular RUclips videos been on, Kingsgrove, Glebe, Parramatta’s an historical time line and discovering history, Manly, Ryde and Concord.
We would like to hear your views, particularly if you are a resident, employed in the area, or were either of these in the past. We looked forward to having many viewers for our Manly video, but until lately it just did not happen. As one who used to take the ferry to attend the Jazz Festival, we believed every one would want to spend a nostalgic moment remembering Manly’s past. So why this surge now in viewers, and why we ask are you watching?
Wow. What a tour de force. Bit stuck for words. "Congratulations" is a good start!
Have to absorb this one, and watch it again. A couple of things resonate immediately, however, in that I'd hazard a guess that few people living in Manly today would know of its rich and colourful history. It's not as though Manly developed through the decades as one pedestrian, mundane change into another. This makes way for the second thought ... that the suburb was identified as a playground for residents from other suburbs (happy for that to be corrected).
That identification - drawn from your work to have been initially envisioned by Henry Gilbert Smith - followed its earliest vision (in terms of European Settlement) as both a village and an outpost for the unfortunate and infirm. What I guess I'm trying to say here is that Manley (sic) was a distant destination and not within the mainstream evolutionary pattern of Sydney's growth. So instead of it being essentially another residential suburb it became a day-trip destination of festivity and play. I think that makes it highly unusual.
Your exposé on, from memory, New Town is comparable in a way, with the difference being that human creativity seemed to drive New Town's attraction: skating rinks and cultural activities, whereas Manly seemed more about rides and so forth, that is, the man made.
Interesting, then, that Manly moved into the mainstream in terms of development, being more residential and self-sustaining (the reservoir signifies this, too) and now most if not all of the sheer playfulness is lost.
What also stands out is how brutal and shortsighted development, in general, has proven to be, as these magnificent buildings are wiped from history in a rush for the new. I reckon that's very sad. Would love it if a British-heritage historian might help shine on a light on that point, perhaps as answer to the question: Would English development have been so quick to wipe out its buildings of note?
But personal musings aside, it's a powerful work you've created.
The central features remain strong in my memory: the Corso, a bustling avenue of cosmopolitan (such as it was then) interest in its own right, with ginormous pine trees at the end as a grand landmark celebrating the location of its ocean beach. But the wharf was of unusual interest: the bold old ferries' shoving their props into reverse would send all sorts of stuff swirling up towards the beach.
As a kid I would queue, gingerly walk the narrow moving plank, and get on for a return trip to Circular Quay. You got what could possibly be the best harbour cruise in the world, a full and fascinating hour and a half, for a song. But you had to hide in that little enclave up front where they stored some floats and unusued things lest the guard (of some sort, or ticketmaster or ticket-checker) chucked you off the Quay.
Congratulations again. Awesome achievement.
As one of the people responsible for creating the Manly video, I’d like to comment on the above.
The strange thing about trawling through pictures, and contemporary details from newspapers and Sand’s directories, plus checking the voracity of other people accounts, is that until you have completed the work you don’t know what you’ve got. This is particularly true of our efforts for we have no particular political or social axe to grind. On watching for the first time, and having a rough cut script read aloud to me, my reaction was of a sense of loss, as to the what has featured in Manly ‘s past.
I would substantially agree with the above comments. Though yesterday, I talked to someone who, now in his seventies, remembers going on holiday to Manly, (not a day trip). The creator’s childhood was indelibly stained on a trip to Manly with her father on a very small ferry. He was en route to play cricket on Manly oval. A squall struck up and waves came pounding over the side. Still after so many years that anxiety remains. As for me my memories are so much more recent. Simply delighting in listening to the jazz musicians at the Manly Jazz Festival. I’m just a little envious, of the larrikin childhood of our above contributor, but console myself, in that taking the Manly ferry is something I have in common with thousands if not millions, and it all began in the 1830’s!
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Interesting isn't it how the passing of even a small passage of time alters how we perceive what we create. I expect dedicating one's thoughts to the (accurate) work you do would result in quite a revelation once the video is finished. Each is quite a narrative.
So too if extrapolated to months and decades passing, incremental change, too, such as the loss of a building here and another there, might have an accumulative effect go unnoticed until it's far too late.
I'm not so sure it's 'political', or an entirely political topic (the loss of wonderful buildings). I'm not so sure Australia has a culture to protect,
far less an architectural heritage culture. On the larger, overall culture, or lack of, you may be interested in the latest book by Anna Clark, just out now. A review published yesterday is here:
www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/13/hows-this-for-a-beginning-the-tricky-work-of-writing-the-story-of-australian-history
The idea, for instance, that the 'Australian culture' is exemplified or encapsulated by the ANZAC troops, which has often been considered a substitute for an actual 'Australian' culture, is now being rather quickly eroded. This for many reasons, three of which are the sheer youngness of Australia's 'settled' existence, mass multiculturalism, and the grandness both historically and spiritually of our First Nation's people. We could add a fourth: that the youthful European Settled element has no right of its own to actually call the "this is our culture" shots.
Without that definitive, cohesive societal culture it's all the more easy for one grand piece of architecture, a poingnant piece of history, to be bulldozed away.
This is not so much a criticism as an observation. Heaven help us if we make a stamp as to what the 'Australian Culture' is until we truly reconcile our place together. Moreso, I think, it's cause for the younger people to take hold of and take note -- it's [a definitive culture] theirs to look forward to.
Unfortunately, until this sense of identity is resolved and grown stronger, it will (still) largely be acts of protest that determine whether an old building stays, whether history is kept.
But, yes, Manly seems particularly to have suffered very significant loss.
As an extension of the above, sophisticated communities worldwide are planning (very politically potent and active) to recapture the qualities of the "village". But that's another story. It's mentioned though because it is a magnificent development in city planning, one, though again sadly, Australia will have to wait several decades to see arrive on our shores. Happy to expand upon further if you wish.
Really what we're talking about with Manly, in historical terms, though, is charm. Charm and play.
If I take your response correctly, it is that someone didn't quite enjoy a Manly ferry trip. Many probably don't, not only when it's rough, seeing it as a time-taking 'thing that must be done', as in 'put up with'.
But I'd hazard another guess in that these are in the minority: that most do, to this day, love being on the ferry.
It really is a world-class delight. You get the familiar along with the changing.
For who didn't ever marvel at another ferry approaching, the 'return trip' coming towards you, growing ever larger, to thrumb on past at the same place every time. And the Hydrofoil exploding into view then past in a hull-exposing skip-and-glide.
Something a little personal for the fun of it. The rougher, for me, the better. Depending on the vessel, you could get right up front on some, the very bows. There, out in the deep, across the face of the harbour entrance, you could swing, what, thirty feet high? Then plunge into the trough, looking, for that delicious two seonds, into the green deep of the sea.
If it was even a bit rough, if you didn't get yourself drenched, the trip on return ensured you had to be ever more diligent in leaning over the precarious side.
Just fantastic.
Years later, I made sure to engage a spotter, who worked in an office floors-up in the CBD. He'd slip me a phone call when, from there, he could see the ferries were crashing sideways, or over. The goal then was to not get a speeding ticket in the rush to get on one -- preferably the last prior to them calling a stop.
On the inside leg, seeing its sister ferry out across the face, if you caught sight of her propellor you grinned wickedly for the small and similar group, drenched and wild with the thrill, at her bows. Empathetic joy was good enough.
Lovely painting for the thumbnail, not incidentally.
'swell.
@@lukecasey3480 Luke, I feel I have to report that your joy and delight, in viewing our video on Manly, does not appear to be something you have in common with the residents or for that matter, any other people. Why Manly has stalled in viewer numbers, that is the question? I think we have discussed off line, what our thinking has been regarding how we choose a new suburb. If you could read the comments above that we have sent to Warren Hunt, on this Manly comments page, and perhaps, if you have a wisdom respond, that would be appreciated.