Manly and Freshwater surf beaches on Sydney’s Northern Beaches were formally declared Australia’s latest National Surfing Reserve at a dedication ceremony on 25 September.
New South Wales State Member of Parliament for Manly, Mike Baird, presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by Deputy Leader of the NSW Government in the Legislative Council Tony Kelly; Manly Mayor Jean Hay; Warringah Mayor Michael Regan; and Surfing legends Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly, Phyllis O’Donnell and Barton Lynch.
The new Manly-Freshwater National Surfing Reserve stretches over four kilometres from Harbord Point to Fairy Bower and includes Freshwater Beach, Queenscliff, North Steyne and Manly Beaches, as well as Shelly Beach to Fairy Bower Point.
As a National Surfing Reserve, Manly-Freshwater joins an elite group of iconic surfing beaches with intrinsic environmental, heritage, sporting and cultural value to the nation.
The only other National Surfing Reserves in Australia are Maroubra, Angourie, Lennox, Crescent Head, Cronulla, Merewether, Killalea and North Narrabeen in New South Wales; and Margaret River and Kalbarri in Western Australia.
Manly hosted the first World Surfboard Riding Championship in 1964, with ‘Midget’ Farrelly and Phyllis O’Donnell winning the event. The champions unveiled two special plaques commemorating the dedication of the Manly-Freshwater National Surfing Reserve during the dedication ceremony.
One plaque is featured on a special, new sandstone sculpture on Manly Beach by artist Chris Bennetts, while the second is placed near a statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku on the headland overlooking Freshwater Beach. Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian swimmer, actor, lawman, and businessman credited with spreading the sport of surfing.
With its century long surfing heritage, Manly is widely regarded as the birthplace of surfing in Australia.
Freshwater Beach famously played host to Duke Kahanamoku’s board surfing demonstration in the Summer of 1914/1915, and is currently home to two world surfing champions – Barton Lynch and Layne Beachley.
“National Surfing Reserves encourage everyone to enjoy, understand and protect special coastal environments of universal value to the surfing world,” said Councillor Hay. “The dedication of the Manly-Freshwater area as a National Surfing Reserve is a wonderful recognition of the iconic nature of this beautiful stretch of paradise.
“It’s important to note that a Surfing Reserve does not attempt to exclude any user group from the surfing beach. In fact, it ensures that the enjoyment of a reserve is protected and enhanced for generations to come.”
Formed in Sydney in 2005, the National Surfing Reserve program is a voluntary collaboration dedicated to recognising iconic surfing sites in Australia and promoting National Surfing Reserve sites globally.
Self funded and non political, the National Reference Group comprises experienced individuals from across Australia who facilitate National Surfing Reserve nominations and management.
