The Corso, is a cultural feature located between Manly Beach and Manly Wharf
HISTORY
Manly was isolated from Sydney for many years - only accessible by road through Parramatta and the north western bushlands, a distance of 112km, or by punt from The Spit in Middle Harbour.
The first person to see the potential of Manly as a resort village was Henry Gilbert Smith, an English entrepreneur. He started acquiring land in the area during the 1850s.
Norfolk Island pines were planted along the harbour foreshore and in 1855 Smith had a pier constructed a little east of the Manly Wharf, the Pier Hotel was built and The Corso was cleared linking the harbour with the ocean beach.He named it The Corso after the famous street in Rome.
The Corso remained an area with small businesses and local residents for some time.Once bathing was allowed and surfing at Manly Beach became popular in the early 1900s the Corso increased in size and by the 1920s symbolized the new energy and quickening pace of life in Manly. New commercial activity transformed the Corso from a rather dilapidated, horse-drawn street to a bustling boulevard with many motor vehicles and smart new premises. The Great Depression and the Second World War were to slow the pace of suburbanization that would eventually spell the end of the Corso’s dominance.
In 2007 The Corso underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade and is now a pedestrian plaza, which runs from the Ferry wharf on Sydney Harbour, to the Pacific Ocean side of the Manly peninsula. The Corso's ocean-side intersection marks the boundary between the North Steyne (street) and South Steyne (street) sections of Manly Beach. Completed in two stages taking a total of 12 months and incurring a spend of over $9 million, the Corso upgrade has seen a marked improvement of the Manly precinct when travelling from the Wharf to the beachfront and back.
Initiated by the Manly Chamber of Commerce, who lobbied Council and secured the spend with involvement from the Manly Centre Manager, this has served to increase the value of the business precinct and all businesses within it.
Manly was isolated from Sydney for many years - only accessible by road through Parramatta and the north western bushlands, a distance of 112km, or by punt from The Spit in Middle Harbour.
The first person to see the potential of Manly as a resort village was Henry Gilbert Smith, an English entrepreneur. He started acquiring land in the area during the 1850s.
Norfolk Island pines were planted along the harbour foreshore and in 1855 Smith had a pier constructed a little east of the Manly Wharf, the Pier Hotel was built and The Corso was cleared linking the harbour with the ocean beach.He named it The Corso after the famous street in Rome.
The Corso remained an area with small businesses and local residents for some time.Once bathing was allowed and surfing at Manly Beach became popular in the early 1900s the Corso increased in size and by the 1920s symbolized the new energy and quickening pace of life in Manly. New commercial activity transformed the Corso from a rather dilapidated, horse-drawn street to a bustling boulevard with many motor vehicles and smart new premises. The Great Depression and the Second World War were to slow the pace of suburbanization that would eventually spell the end of the Corso’s dominance.
In 2007 The Corso underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade and is now a pedestrian plaza, which runs from the Ferry wharf on Sydney Harbour, to the Pacific Ocean side of the Manly peninsula. The Corso's ocean-side intersection marks the boundary between the North Steyne (street) and South Steyne (street) sections of Manly Beach. Completed in two stages taking a total of 12 months and incurring a spend of over $9 million, the Corso upgrade has seen a marked improvement of the Manly precinct when travelling from the Wharf to the beachfront and back.
Initiated by the Manly Chamber of Commerce, who lobbied Council and secured the spend with involvement from the Manly Centre Manager, this has served to increase the value of the business precinct and all businesses within it.
FUNCTION More than 5 million visitors come to Manly each year to enjoy a wide range of events and entertainment attractions.The Corso at Manly is now a partly-malled promenade area with interesting shops,cafes and restaurants that allow outdoor dining. During weekends and holidays The Corso is full of buskers and street entertainers and outdoor markets, where fashion, food, homewares and giftwares are all on sale.
The Corso has also become a larger residential area with hotels and apartment blocks being built to take advantage of the ocean views.
The Corso has also become a larger residential area with hotels and apartment blocks being built to take advantage of the ocean views.