This month, Manly Art Gallery & Museum celebrates its 90th birthday and nine decades of art collecting with a special exhibition Treasures from the Vault.

Treasures from the Vault showcases the gallery’s hidden gems and works from some of Australia’s most renowned artists. Its collection is an enduring legacy of local arts and culture, and many pieces give us a snapshot of what life was like at the time of creation.

Travel through time with us as we share some of our favourites pieces capturing Manly’s harbour and beach.

View of Manly Pier and East Esplanade, c1880s   

Artist unknown 
Watercolour on paper, 22 x 57.5cm 
MAG&M Collection – Gift of grandchildren Nereida, Alan and Ian Kiminster in 2019 in memory of Farquahar Aberdeen and Emma Kiminster who received it as a wedding present, 4 February 1897

Manly Summer is Here, 1913 

Ethel Carrick Fox (1872-1952) 
Oil on canvas, 81 x 102cm 
MAG&M Collection – Gift of the artist, 1934 

Middle Harbour from Manly Heights, 1923 

James R. Jackson (1882-1975) 
Oil on canvas, 77 x 92cm 
MAG&M Collection – Gift of the Manly Art & historical Committee, 25 October 1924 

West Esplanade Reserve Bandstand, 1924 

RH Robertson (1840-1935) 
Watercolour on paper, 22 x 34cm 
MAG&M Collection – Gift of Mrs Crowley, 1987 

The Spit, 1943 

Harold Greenhill (1914-1995) 
Oil on board, 30 x 36cm 
MAG&M Collection – Gift of the artist, 1969 

Manly Surf Life Saving Club, 1950s 

Frank Hurley (1885-1962) 
Digital print, 59.5 x 86cm 
MAG&M Collection – printed by Warren Macris courtesy National Library of Australia, 2018 

Manly Series, #2 The Bodysurfers, 2007 

Stephen Lees (b.1954) 
Gouache and watercolour on wood panel,  40 x 50cm 
MAG&M Collection – Purchased 2008 

The Couple, 2015 

Anne Zahalka (b.1957) 
Archival pigment print,  55.8 x 40.5cm 
MAG&M Collection – Gift of the artist, 2015  
Image courtesy of the artist 

North Head A Tied Island in Space and Time, 2017 

Nick Hollo (b.1949)  
Oil pastel on paper, 84 x 119cm 
MAG&M Collection – Gift of the artist, 2018  

Autumn Night, Manly, 2018 

Wendy Sharpe (b.1960) 
Oil on canvas, 30 x 30cm 
MAG&M Collection – Purchased, 2019 
Image courtesy the artist and King Street Gallery on William 

This is just a small selection of a vast art collection on show during Treasures from the Vault. Open until 3 August- you won’t want to miss it.  

In 2020, our regional gallery is a cultural hub of art, live music and creative learning. There’s always something to see, hear or do so check out Manly Art Gallery & Museum’s webpage to see what’s on.  

Don’t forget to book your timed ticket to keep in line with current social distancing rules.