Property Description
Imagine a block that has already seen generations come and go — and now it’s your turn. Reliable income now, a blank canvas for value-add tomorrow, and all of it wrapped up in Manly’s signature surf-and-sun lifestyle.
A solid brick classic with timeless appeal, this freehold block is as rare as it is rewarding. Six two-bedroom apartments across three levels, each generously scaled and light-filled, anchored by three separate lock-up garages. An income-producing asset today with the flexibility for tomorrow — renovate, reposition, or simply hold and harvest. (STCA)
Planning Controls
Zone R1 General Residential
Objectives of Zone R3:
• To provide for the housing needs of the community
• To provide a variety of housing types and densities
• To enable other land uses that provide facilities or services to meet the day to day needs of residents.
Permitted Without Consent:
• Home-based child care
• Home occupations
Permitted With Consent:
• Attached dwellings
• Bed and breakfast accommodation
• Boarding houses
• Boat launching ramps
• Boat sheds
• Centre-based child care facilities
• Community facilities
• Dual occupancies
• Dwelling houses
• Emergency services facilities
• Environmental protection works
• Flood mitigation works
• Group homes
• Health consulting rooms
• Home businesses
• Home industries
• Hostels
• Information and education facilities
• Jetties
Prohibited:
• Multi dwelling housing
• Neighbourhood shops
• Oyster aquaculture
• Places of public worship
• Pond-based aquaculture
• Recreation areas
• Recreation facilities (indoor)
• Residential flat buildings
• Respite day care centres
• Roads
• Secondary dwellings
• Semi-detached dwellings
• Seniors housing
• Shop top housing
• Signage
• Tank-based aquaculture
• Water recreation structures
• Water recycling facilities
• Water supply systems
• Advertising structures; Water treatment facilities; Any other development not specified in item 2 or 3 legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/epi-2013-0140#pt-cg1.Zone_R1
Development Potential
The R1 General Residential zoning allows for a range of low-density residential uses, providing flexibility for those looking to enhance or reposition this 1930s freehold building. Opportunities may exist to further improve the existing apartments through refurbishment, reconfiguration, or consolidation, capitalising on Manly’s strong rental and lifestyle demand.
Given the property’s size and location, future redevelopment potential may also be explored, subject to Council Approval (STCA).
Area Snapshot
Manly
Unrivalled Location and Lifestyle
Nestled between Manly Wharf and the surf, 19 Upper Gilbert Street sits at the epicentre of one of Sydney’s most coveted coastal suburbs. Just a short stroll from the Corso, ferries, and Manly Beach, residents enjoy the kind of lifestyle most only dream about — morning swims, café breakfasts, and sunset walks along the promenade.
Manly blends village charm with cosmopolitan energy, offering world-class dining, boutique shopping, and a thriving café culture, all within walking distance. The suburb’s natural beauty — from Shelly Beach to North Head — pairs effortlessly with its unrivalled convenience, attracting everyone from young professionals to downsizers and long-term investors seeking that quintessential Northern Beaches lifestyle.
With the ferry delivering commuters to the Sydney CBD in under 30 minutes, and buses connecting easily across the Northern Beaches, Manly provides seamless connectivity without sacrificing the laid-back coastal vibe that defines it.
Premium Investment Potential
Manly’s property market continues to outperform, driven by its scarcity of developable land and sustained demand for quality housing. Opportunities to acquire freehold assets within walking distance of the Corso are exceedingly rare, and this tightly held pocket is among the most resilient in Sydney.
Rental demand remains exceptionally strong, with low vacancy rates and premium pricing supported by lifestyle appeal, walkability, and proximity to transport. Investors can expect consistent rental income and longterm capital growth underpinned by Manly’s enduring prestige and limited supply.
For developers and long-term holders alike, 19 Upper Gilbert Street represents a trophy opportunity — a bluechip coastal asset with solid returns today and endless potential for tomorrow.
Key Amenities
Beaches & Outdoor Recreation
• Manly Beach – ~600m walk (7 mins)
• Shelly Beach – scenic 20-minute coastal walk via Marine Parade
• Fairlight Beach & Tidal Pool – ~10 mins on foot
• Queenscliff Beach – ~12 mins walk north
• Manly to Spit Bridge Coastal Walk – access via Fairlight
• North Head Sanctuary – walking tracks, lookouts, and wildlife
Cafés, Dining & Lifestyle
• The Corso – 5 mins walk; boutique retail, cafés, and restaurants
• Felons, Rollers Bakehouse, Garfish, Sunset Sabi, Hugos Manly
• Market Lane Live Music & Bar Scene
• Manly Wharf – waterfront dining & ferry terminal precinct
Shopping & Essentials
• Manly Corso Retail Precinct – local boutiques
• Harris Farm Markets – 4 mins drive
• Balgowlah Shopping Village – major retail, Coles, eateries, medical
• Manly Village Farmers Market – weekend artisan market in Sydney Road Plaza
Transport & Connectivity
• Manly Wharf Ferry Terminal – 6 mins walk; 30-minute fast ferry to Sydney CBD
• Bus Services – routes along Sydney Road, Belgrave St & Manly Wharf linking to:
o Wynyard & Sydney CBD
o Chatswood
o Northern Beaches & Dee Why
• B-Line Bus Stop (Manly Vale) – rapid service to city (5 mins drive)
• Cycle Paths – extensive network along the beachfront and harbour foreshore
Schools & Education
• Manly Village Public School – 500m walk
• St Paul’s Catholic College – 5 mins drive
• NBSC Mackellar Girls Campus – 7 mins drive
• St Mary’s Primary School, Manly – local independent option
• Manly West Public School – 5 mins drive
• TAFE NSW Northern Beaches (Brookvale) – 10 mins drive
Health & Wellbeing
• Manly Medical Centre & Pharmacy – The Corso
• Northern Beaches Hospital – 15 mins drive
• Manly Andrew “Boy” Charlton Aquatic Centre –10 mins walk
• Numerous fitness studios, yoga centres, and surf schools nearby
Lifestyle & Community
• Manly Library & Community Centre
• Manly Art Gallery & Museum
• Manly Yacht Club
• Manly Wharf Bar & The Hold – nightlife staples
• Manly Oval – rugby & cricket
• Manly Bowling Club – relaxed community hub
Summary
19 Upper Gilbert Street represents a generational opportunity to secure a boutique freehold block of six apartments in the beating heart of Manly. With immediate rental income, three rare garages, and flexible long-term potential, this is a trophy investment for those seeking both secure returns and capital growth in one of Sydney’s most prized coastal markets.
Address
19 Upper Gilbert Street, Manly NSW 2095
Auction Onsite Auction: Saturday 1st November 2025
GROUND FLOOR
LOWER GROUND FLOOR
TOP FLOOR
SITE
GROUND FLOOR
UPPER GILBERT STREET, MANLY
DISCLAIMER: All information contained herein is gathered from sources we believe to be reliable. We cannot however guarantee its accuracy and interested parties should make and rely on their own enquiries.