Fairy Bower, Manly1956

by Alan Grieve

Born in 1910, Sydney artist Alan Grieve studied at the Julian Ashton School and East Sydney Technical College.

Situated between Manly’s South Steyne and Shelly Beach lies the romantic sounding Fairy Bower. Named by landowner Charles Hemington in 1858, the Bower was intended to be a picnic and refreshment area for visitors to Manly. The Sydney Morning Herald recommended it in 1859 as ‘beautifully situated, near the ocean beach’.

Grieve lived locally, producing coastal scenes of Middle Harbour and the Northern Beaches. Not much has changed at Fairy Bower from what Grieve observed in 1956. A popular cafe continues to serve refreshments in the same building, and locals and visitors alike enjoy the swimming and walking the position offers.

View collection item
Collection Item Type: 
  • Oil on masonite
Call Number: 
DG 463
Published date: 
1956
On display: 
Exhibition Galleries
Copyright status: In copyright - Life of artist plus 70 years Approval for reproduction required Please acknowledge: Dixson Galleries, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder
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