The Shelly Beach Amusement Scheme

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AuthorJohn MorcombeDateAugust 2023DescriptionShelley beach is the most protected ocean beach on the peninsula, providing swimming in safe harbour, but a century ago there were well-founded fears that Shelly Beach would be turned into a private amusement park.
Manly Council, were always looking for more ways of attracting day-trippers and in 1924 council held a design competition for a scheme to improve the beachfront between Fairy Bower and North Steyne. Council’s publicity officer, Edward Cortis, proposed a very grand scheme that included an amusement park at Shelly Beach with a shark-proof swimming enclosure, dressing sheds, a promenade, a bandstand, up-to-date tea rooms, a dancing pavilion, shelter sheds and other buildings, and beach amusements such as merry-go-rounds and Ferris wheels. His scheme also proposed a grand marine drive and promenade from Manly Beach via Fairy Bower to Shelly Beach headland, and returning to Manly via Bower St.SubjectsAmusementsShelley BeachAmusements - New South Wales - ManlyKeywordsEdward CortisCopyrightThis item may be used freely for research and study purposes, for all other uses contact Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies. Please acknowledge that the item is courtesy of John Morcombe.

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The Shelly Beach Amusement Scheme