Known in 1940 as Australia's Premier Seaside Resort, today Manly owes much of its prosperity to the privately owned Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company who, in 1933, built 'the finest swimming pool in Australia'. For the comfort of the bathers, they erected a Dressing Pavilion with tea rooms and changing areas, as well as a boardwalk and play equipment. This entire endeavour was in aid of encouraging patronage of the Manly "steamer" and, despite the second world war, proved to be successful attracting a total of nearly 14 million visitors during 1945 and 1946. In 1974, violent storms damaged the boardwalk, then sadly, in 1976 it was deemed to be irreparable and was dismantled.

The Dressing Pavilion is now home to the multi-award winning Manly Pier Pavilion Restaurant. From any vantage point in the heritage-listed restaurant you command sweeping views of Sydney Heads – with South Head and Watson's Bay Lighthouse to the right, and to the left, North Head where the magnificent Cardinal's Palace on St. Patrick's Estate still dominates the landscape.

The principal watering place of the Colony in 1855, Manly still remains a favourite destination of Sydneysiders seeking to escape the pressures of life in a big city.