Manly Dam

Aboriginal settlement

Before European settlement, the Guringai people occupied a vast area from Newcastle through to Sydney. Evidence of this can been seen from rock engravings and paintings, shell middens, axe-grinding grooves and occupation sites, such as food remains, stone tools, baked clay, fire-blackened stones and charcoal. These can all be seen in a range of sites in Warringah, including sites at Manly Dam and its surrounding bushland.

European settlement

In 1892 Curl Curl Creek was dammed to create Manly Reservoir and provide a permanent supply of fresh water for the village of Manly. However, as the population grew the dam wall had to be raised. It was first raised in 1909, then in 1922 and finally in 1935.

As the population grew the dam's capacity became insufficient and its water supply was phased out. Water started being piped from the Pymble reservoir in 1930. However, a drought that lasted from 1934 to 1942 was so serious that in January 1942 pumps were reinstalled and Manly Dam was brought back into service until October of the same year.

War Memorial Park

After World War I Manly Dam was establised as a War Memorial Park. In 1939 it was designated as a reserve for public recreation. During World War II the dam was fortified with machine guns and barbed wire. Warringah Council was appointed trustee of the reserve in 1953.

Water quality monitoring began in 1986 and in 1991, after much research, a 2m submersible propellor was installed on the dam wall to reduce the severity and frequency of blue-green algae blooms.

Warringah Council continues to manage Manly Dam catachment and the surrounding area to maintain the condition of local bushland and water quality in the dam and local creeks.