At the time of European settlement the Manly area was the traditional home of the Guringai people.
Initially, relations were good between the first colonists and the Guringai, but were soon soured when convicts began stealing from and attacking the aborigines. In 1789 a smallpox epidemic spread through the local Aboriginal tribes and killed between 50-90% of the population. By the 1830's, only a few Aborigines remained in the Manly area.
Many Aboriginal sites have been recorded in the Manly area. The most common sites include shelter, midden sites, rock engravings, open midden sites, shelter cave art and open camp sites.
About Aboriginal Sites and Cultural Heritage