Hawkridge Entertainment Services completed the Manly Town Hall Feasibility Study for Northern Beaches Council. The following article outlines the outcomes from the report.
Manly Town Hall Feasibility Study
Plans to convert Manly Town Hall, the NSW Heritage-listed building opposite Manly Wharf that used to house Manly Council, into an arts and entertainment venue have been shelved for the foreseeable future, due to prohibitive costs.
Built in 1937, the 2-storey Georgian-themed building facing Manly Cove at the end of The Corso, with four distinctive white columns at the entrance, is at present used as a Customer Service Centre for Northern Beaches Council.
In April 2023, Northern Beaches Council voted unanimously to proceed with a feasibility study to convert Manly Town Hall into a “proposed multi-use performance and exhibition space.”
The proposal included a flexible 350-seat space for exhibitions, a 100-seat theatre and an 80-seat cinema.
Hawkridge Entertainment Services won the contract and undertook the commission between December 2023 – March 2024.
Praise from Council for the Manly Town Hall Feasibility Study
Manly councillor Candy Bingham, who has spearheaded the campaign for its creative reuse, praised Hawkridge’s study and lamented that the plan was unfeasible.
“I was very impressed with how thorough the report was,” she said. “It covered everything, from the suitability of the building, heritage considerations, audience catchment, potential programming, and of course the risks and opportunities with the conversion of the building.”
Hawkridge, which partnered with Scott Carver urban designers and Networked Urban Solutions property planners, considered a range of factors to determine whether a multi-use arts-oriented site would be viable. These included: operational costs; the impacts of traffic and parking on the local area; analysis of usable space and on-site storage options; and whether it complimented local businesses (including the night-time economy).
Ultimately, after examining the report, Council concluded it was not cost-effective to proceed. On 30 April 2024 councillors voted to discontinue the multipurpose arts venue option.
Cr Bingham expressed her disappointment with the result, but agreed it was the only logical outcome for the time being. She told Manly Observer, “It’s complicated because the configuration that we asked them to look at was not viable. In fact all projects of this type receive subsidies in some form from council.”
At present, Council doesn’t have the budget to afford such subsidies.
How we help
Hawkridge Entertainment Services provides a range of services for organisations including strategic analysis, feasibility development and business case writing. We are experts in the development of cultural infrastructure. Some of our recent projects are:
- Roxy Theatre Parramatta Final Business Case
- Parramatta Riverside Theatres Business Case
- Report on the economic contribution of Music Venues in NSW
- Coffs Harbour Community and Cultural Facilities Plan 2021-2031
- Business case for the Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre
- Operational review of the Paranaple Convention Centre
We deliver successful outcomes by finding solutions to complex issues. We listen to stakeholders and complete tasks in the timeframes required.
Other similar projects completed by Hawkridge Entertainment Services are available here.