Mike Newstead

Fun Pier and Manly topics...... Things I remember about growing up in Manly............. [*]New years eve at the Fun Pier [*]Miss Manly and her string bag full of lemons [*]The Pearl King in the Corso [*]Diving for coins at the ferry wharf [*]Fish and chips from the fish shop on the ferry wharf [*]Skate City up near Marineland (My dad was the Manager there) [*]All night parties at Little Manly Beach [*]Swimming at the baths (before it got blown away in 1974) [*]Manly Public School....and the little bottles of milk at "play lunch" [*]Going to Reef beach....just for a look !!?? [*]Fishing for yellow tail (Yakkas) off the wharf [*]Exploring the old gas works [*]Trying to ride my bike to north head up Darley Road (much more fun coming down the hill) [*]Rollerskating around the Whistler Street carpark late at night [*]School sports day at manly oval [*]Standing at the waters edge when a southerly came in

Hi "Funpier", Yes...I was one of the kids that went to the local shops for staff lunches. The maze at Kings cross was called the "Minitour's Maze", was next to the wax works. Funshows Pty Ltd also owned the Manly shark aquarium (next door to the Fun Pier with the big sharks head as the entry) and were part owners of Manly Marineland. The picture used as my ID (above left) was taken when I was 16 and working at Marineland. Lots of memories from the pier...most good. Still, if I had my life to live again...would do it all the same.

wow..so many great memories of the fun pier........... I worked there as the clown from 1970, aged 7 and still attending Manly Public School. The owners of the Fun Pier (fun shows pty ltd) were Peter C, Managing Director, John S, Director, Brian H, Director. The TV show that was being filmed there was called "Shannon s Mob". I was an extra on the octopus scene when the guy ran in and got thrown over the side into the water. This scene took hours to film, and we were on the octopus all that time....never thrown up so much in my life!! The Big storm referred to earlier was on the 14th of May 1974. a mini cyclone that destroyed the walkway/promenade and damaged many of the beach front properties. I remember going for a walk with my dad the morning after and seeing the huge sandstone blocks, cars, boats and all sorts of other things that had been thrown around like paper...the devastation was unreal. The fun Pier was damaged and the losses were quite severe for the owners. I will always remember the Fun Pier as a great place to go and enjoy yourself. It got a bit sleazy toward the end and was more like a pinball parlor on the water when it closed down.......but always will stay with me as a huge part of my childhood.