Manly Markets 2095
A weekend market steps from a beach that Governor Phillip named for the 'manly behaviour' of the Aboriginal men he met there in 1788.
About this market
Manly Markets 2095 trades every Saturday and Sunday barely a hundred metres from a beach with one of Sydney's most significant colonial-era stories attached to its name. In January 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip sailed into the cove and was met by around twenty Aboriginal men who swam out fearlessly to his boat, prompting Phillip to name the place Manly for their "confidence and manly behaviour," a strikingly different welcome to the wary receptions his crew met elsewhere in the harbour.
Trading beside a beach with a name from 1788
That first encounter didn't stay peaceful. Relations deteriorated over the following years, and in September 1790 a spearing incident involving Phillip himself at Manly became a turning point that, oddly, led to closer and more regular contact between colonists and the Aboriginal Eora people. More than two centuries later, the name from that first fearless welcome is still the one on every market sign and street corner in the area, this market included.
Market at a glance
The market itself leans into emerging talent rather than mass-produced goods, reviewers describing a genuine range of eco-friendly items, artisan products, handcrafted jewellery and original art, run by a team with more than three decades of combined experience in Manly's retail and surf scene.
Manly's name has stuck for more than two centuries, but it started as a compliment: Governor Phillip named the cove after watching Aboriginal men swim out fearlessly to greet his boat in 1788, unlike the wary receptions he met almost everywhere else in Sydney Harbour.
Good to know before you go
Running both weekend days, rather than just one, makes it an easy add-on to a Manly Beach visit regardless of which day suits. The short walk from the ferry terminal means it's a realistic stop even for visitors without a car.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What time does Manly Markets 2095 open?
- Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm, on Sydney Road, about 100 metres from Manly Beach.
- Why is the suburb called Manly?
- Governor Arthur Phillip named Manly Cove in January 1788, impressed by the 'confidence and manly behaviour' of a group of about twenty Aboriginal men who swam out to meet his boat without fear, a very different reception to other spots around the harbour.
- Who runs the market?
- It's managed by a small team with more than 30 years of combined experience in the retail and surf industries, led by manager Mark Eymes, bringing genuine local knowledge to the market's day-to-day running.