PIECES OF HISTORY - WYNNUM & MANLY

Manly is renowned for its waterside living and diversity of tourist attractions that has drawn many people looking for that special place to visit or holiday.

Manly Creek once flowed through the commercial area of Cambridge Parade and the early water supply was drawn from a dam constructed across the creek. The shops lining Cambridge Parade are notable for the retention of the original post-supported awnings and the residential top floors with their verandas projecting over the footpath.

Our building was erected in 1907 by the Manly pioneers Joseph and Ellen Curtis, who established a general store below (now Harlequins) while raising a family of 9 where our café is. This building was renovated in 1993 to become the backpacker's accommodation and café for the locals and visitors alike.

Head down the road, turning right into the Esplanade you'll see the second largest marina in the southern hemisphere. Continue past the boat harbour, turn right into Falcon Street and you'll observe the 7.5 metres high and almost 3 metres thick at the base, stone retaining wall. Built by the Brisbane City Council in 1933 to provide relief work during the Depression. The stone for the wall was quarried at Lytton, and an artistic workman created small concrete figures of kangaroos, emus, goannas and human heads into some of the mortar joints between the stones.

Turn right into Oceania Terrace and right into Kooralgin Street to admire the view of Moreton Bay from Manly Hill. This expansive view of the bay and its islands includes (from left to right) the Port of Brisbane at Fisherman's Island, St Helena ( a prison from 1867 to 1932) the distant sand hills of Moreton Island, Green Island (destination for WAGS) and Stradbroke Island accessible by rail to Cleveland and a water taxi. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron host the WAGS - Wednesday Afternoon Gone Sailing - and welcome visitors to crew for the day. Arrive at the Yacht Club around midday and register for the race around Green Island, no experience is necessary just let the skipper know your degree of knowledge, and what you would like to try on his boat. Race finishes around 4.30pm.

Down to the Esplanade from our building and turning left - north along the Esplanade brings you two big green tanks in the park. Behind these tanks is the local swimming pool and if you keep the pool to your right hand side and walk out on the William Gunn Jetty this is where you can catch the local charter boats that will take you to Moreton Island, St Helena Island and all around the bay. Still heading north will bring you to Wynnum and to the wading pool, built during the Depression and opened in 1932. At high tide it is filled with sea water, which is retained by closing valves along the sea wall. The Wynnum Pier (the stone seawall) another 1930 Depression project, allowed the salt flats to be reclaimed as parkland. The sandy beach was opened in 1987 and named Pandanus Beach, the Aboriginal word "Winnam" (i.e. Wynnum) meaning 'Place of the Pandanus Tree".

Continue along the Esplanade to the Wynnum Fish Markets based in Wynnum Creek has been apart of this areas history for more than 70 years. In the 1930s the fishing fleet consisted of 28 licensed fishing boats, employed 108 men and landed almost one million lbs (2,000 tonnes) of fish annually. The Wynnum Hotel directly across the park from the Markets, was built in 1870 and originally had two storey open verandas, but has been refurbished a couple of times since and is now known as the Oakes Hotel.

Continue following the Esplanade (over the bridge, through the park) to the Rugby Union fields and you'll see the signs for the Mangrove Boardwalk, an environment that provides a stabilised marine food chain in a protected nursery for marine and bird life. Best to see at low tide for the animals and the roots of the trees coming up through the ground.

At the end of the boardwalk follow Adam Street through to the Wynnum train station for a quick ride to Manly or alternatively take Adam Street to Tingal Road take a left follow through to Wynnum for all the major banks and a larger supermarket as well as some wonderful buildings. The Shire Clerk's Cottage. This cottage was built in 1890 as a residence for the Shire Clerk of the Kianawah Divisional board, later to become the Wynnum Shire Council, then the Wynnum Town Council, before being amalgamated into the Brisbane City Council in 1926. The cottage was completely restored in 1984.

Left into Berrima Street and you'll pass the Waterloo Bay Hotel. The original section of the hotel with open verandas was built in 1889, for George Gibbs, a local stonemason. The adjoining public bar area dates from the 1920 and the beer garden and restaurant were renovated in 2002.

Turn right into Bay Terrace, continue through shopping centre to Clara Street and you'll see the former Wynnum Central Post Office, built in 1923. Wynnum Baptist Church - the first Baptist Church services in Wynnum were held in the Shire Clerk's cottage. A small church was built in Edith Street in 1912, and extended in four stages. Then, in 1930, the present site was acquired, and the church was relocated in two sections, rejoined, and the front redesigned.

Guardian Angels Church was the first Catholic Church in the Wynnum area, built in 1905 the 1.5 acres of land on which it stood was a gift to the parish by Archbishop Dunne. Mt Carmel Convent across the road was built in 1915. The beautifully proportioned building was designed in the Victorian style for the Sisters of Mercy. A little further on the right is the Wynnum-Manly School of Arts. The central section of this building was built as a library in 1915 with later extensions being made on each side, for concert and dining hall. In the early days the building hosted the district horticultural shows, society balls and weekly dances.

Turn right into Cedar Street, and proceed to the end, observing on the corner the former Wynnum Ambulance Centre. This impressive building, of red brick and rendered bands, was built in 1926 at a cost of 3000 pounds. The ambulance service relocated to new premises in 1995. Turn left into Tingal Road, and observe on the left - The Wynnum Masonic Hall. The Wynnum Lodge was formed in 1894 with 24 foundation members, and this Regency style Temple was built in 1920 at a cost of 4000 pounds.