Surrounding suburbs are Wynnum (to the north), Lota to the South and Manly West (to the west). To the east lies Moreton Bay.
This
part of Moreton Bay was occupied by the Aboriginal Mipirimm people.
Their lifestyle was semi-nomadic. Increasing contact with the white
settlers brought new diseases to the Aborigines including smallpox and
tuberculosis which savaged the indigenous population.
European
settlement of the Manly area first took place around 1860. In 1882 land
was sold by auction for the 'Manly Beach Estate'. In 1889 a railway line
was opened that provided a direct service to the state capital,
Brisbane. By the early 1900s the area had become a popular seaside
location.
The well sheltered coastal location of Manly has resulted
it becoming a popular location for boating. In 1958 Manly Boat Harbour
was built. Large tidal walls were constructed to the north and south
with dredging being undertaken to deepen the harbour. The silt that was
recovered in this process was brought ashore and used in the
construction of the parks and parking areas around the harbour. These
areas are now the subject of a major redevelopment project by the
Brisbane City Council that is due to be completed in 2008. The Manly
Boat Harbour is now the largest boat harbour facility in Queensland.
A
number of boating clubs are based in Manly including the Brisbane
Sailing Club (now the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron) which relocated
to the area in 1964
