A top-floor apartment in one of Sydney's loveliest coastal stretches

Bower Street in Manly meanders through one of Sydney’s loveliest coastal stretches, past Fairy Bower sea pool and the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve and around the back of family-friendly Shelly Beach. Its natural assets have made it a prestigious place to call home since 1901, when the street’s first residential buildings were erected.

These days, it’s also a pricey place to call home. Its easterly end in particular boasts a number of residences from the “ultra prestige” real estate division.

This charming top-floor apartment in the Franconia building sits up the more affordable end of Bower street, affordable of course being a highly relative term. It was built in the 1930s according to Manly Council documents and its styling is art deco.

The building boasts original leadlight sash windows with elegant floral motifs and pale blue glass, and at its centre, a dramatic dark timber staircase. There are just five units in the block and most, according to the selling agent, are owner-occupied.

Unit 5 is well laid out, light and appealing. Its easterly side enjoys views out to the Fairy Bower surf break. The local streetscapes to its south and west are also rather easy on the eye. The apartment’s water views are particularly expansive at present because the building next door has been demolished. 

Alas, another will appear in its place in the months to come, but unit 5 will still enjoy views of the bay and the surf break.

Being of its era, the apartment is not open plan and the living areas are well separated from the bedrooms. It has only one common wall and a separate loo. The kitchen has just been renovated and features classic white timber joinery, a mirrored splashback and integrated Miele dishwasher. It’s a pleasing, fresh space with a door that leads out to a narrow outdoor area, deemed a balcony on the floor plan, and the building’s fire stairs.

The two main bedrooms are a good size with brand new white timber built-ins. The third bedroom or study, whichever you prefer, was once the apartment’s sunroom.

A contemporary gas fire has been installed in the original living room fireplace. It’s a cosy feature much loved by the current owners. The living room also boasts a gorgeous decorative timber picture rail and intensively fluted cornices.

The selling agent says the building’s rooftop could potentially be converted to a terrace for communal use, but this would require strata and council approval. It’s something to think about. The outlook would be great.

The owner says: “We love having an early coffee on the balcony while assessing the surf and snorkelling conditions on the Fairy Bower break.”

Room for improvement: It’s time to update the bathroom.

5/104 Bower Street, Manly
$1.65-1.75 million
3 bed, 1 bath, 0 car
Built 1930s
Size 86 square metres
Strata levy $1019 a quarter
Inspect Sat and Wed, 11-11.30am
Auction February 11
Agent Belle Property Manly, 0407 899 272
More at Domain

Need to know:
Last traded $755,000 in 2009
Highest recorded apartment price in Manly (past 12 months)
$7.1 million for 1/110 Bower Street in March
Median price for units in Manly $1,208,000

Recent sales: 
1. $1,682,500 for 4/16 Cove Avenue in May
2. $1.12 million for 1/21 Kangaroo Street in September
3. $1.6 million for 2/124 Addison Road in February
Source: Domain Group

Surrounding area: 
Manly is a suburb on the rise, real-estate wise. Last year, unit prices grew by 15 per cent, houses by 30 per cent. By most accounts, it is a great, outdoorsy place to live. Bower Street and surrounds are particularly gorgeous – and pricey.
Serviced by buses and ferries
Close to Shelly Beach, Manly Beach, Manly Hospital, Sydney Harbour National Park and all the greenery on the way to North and Quarantine heads. Manly Ferry Wharf is about 15 minutes on foot while all the shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes on and around the Corso are but 10 minutes away.