Mannings Folly was a three-storey building located on the corner of Pakenham Street and Short Street, in Fremantle, Western Australia.[2][3][4] It was erected in 1858 by Charles Alexander Manning as a hostel for Indian army officers and civil servants. The building was subsequently used as the Manning's private residence.[5]

The 2016 artwork Folly of Follies by Lorenna Grant is on the site of Mannings Folly and is named after it.[1]

Manning, earlier a trader,[6] was a chairman of the Fremantle Town Trust (1859-1867), and he lived in the building until he died in 1869.[7] Manning was a passionate amateur astronomer

It was a prominent three-storey building on the Fremantle townscape, in the era that it existed.[8][9]

A customs and shipping agent, John MacKnight, used the building between 1914 and 1924. It was demolished in May 1928, following a decision by the City of Fremantle to approve the demolition in March that year.[10][11] It was replaced by a substantial warehouse.[12]

The top of the folly was used by early photographers to capture images of parts of Fremantle and Fremantle Harbour.[13]

It is currently the site of Quest Apartments.

Notes

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  1. ^ Brad Pettitt (24 October 2016). "The Quest for Manning's Folly of Follies".
  2. ^ ""Manning's Folly"". The Daily News. Vol. XLVII, no. 16, 453. Western Australia. 23 January 1928. p. 1 (Home (Final) Edition). Retrieved 5 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ Mannings Folly, 1924, retrieved 9 March 2017
  4. ^ Manning's Folly, 1863
  5. ^ ""Manning's Folly"". The West Australian. Vol. XLIV, no. 8, 062. Western Australia. 18 April 1928. p. 12. Retrieved 5 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ See Ex Aerolite "Classified Advertising". The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News. Vol. 7, no. 369. Western Australia. 26 January 1855. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Fremantle looking East, 1881, retrieved 9 March 2017
  8. ^ "Manning's Folly". The Daily News. Vol. XLVII, no. 16, 453. Western Australia. 23 January 1928. p. 1 (HOME (FINAL) EDITION). Retrieved 9 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ View of Fremantle from Arthur Head, 1888, retrieved 9 March 2017
  10. ^ Orloff, Izzy (1928), Manning's Folly demolition, retrieved 9 March 2017
  11. ^ "Manning's Folly". The Advertiser. Vol. VII, no. 382. Western Australia. 9 March 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 5 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ ""Manning's Folly"". The Daily News. Vol. XLIX, no. 17, 080. Western Australia. 30 January 1930. p. 2 (HOMED FINAL EDITION). Retrieved 5 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ Fremantle Harbour and Railway yards taken from 'Mannings Folly' on corner of Short and Pakenham Streets, 1900, retrieved 9 March 2017