Manly Makes Waves as Brisbane Waterfront Property Star

Brisbane’s bayside suburb of Manly has posted some of the city’s strongest year-on-year price growth, as buyers compete for rare waterfront homes along the Moreton Bay coastline.

Waterfront Demand Drives Bayside Boom

Manly, about 19km east of the CBD, is gaining attention as both an investment hotspot and lifestyle enclave. Market momentum has built steadily over the past 18 months, fuelled by interstate newcomers and locals seeking more space and sea breezes as Brisbane’s median home price pushes past $780,000. With the city’s run up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and major infrastructure projects underway, demand for waterside property is pushing new boundaries.

The suburb is best known for its cluster of marinas and sailing clubs, including the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron on Royal Esplanade and Wynnum Manly Yacht Club nearby. Cafés and bars bustle along Cambridge Parade, which forms the heart of Manly Harbour Village. Pembridge Street and Ernest Street have recorded some of Manly’s biggest sales so far this year, with renovated Queenslanders and newly built homes increasingly fetching multi-million dollar figures, local agents report.

Price Surge and Limited Stock

CoreLogic’s latest suburb profile, current as of June 2026, puts Manly’s median house price above $1.7 million, up from just over $1.4 million in late 2024. Sales data shows 23 houses sold in Manly this year, including waterfront homes trading well into the $2 million to $3.5 million range. Only five new house listings appeared in June, tightening supply even further. Agents say families, downsizers and interstate buyers from Sydney and Melbourne continue to compete for the area’s low turnover of prestige homes.

Development along Manly’s waterfront strip is highly restricted by council code and State environmental rules, keeping new supply to a trickle. Much of the local property at the water’s edge consists of classic post-war homes, tightly held among long-term residents. But even apartments are showing momentum: units on Davenport Drive and Kingsley Terrace have had median prices jump more than 18% year-on-year, according to realestate.com.au data.

Buyers hoping to get a foot in the door should be ready to act fast, especially for anything with water frontage or bay views. With the Wynnum-Manly foreshore attracting growing numbers for the popular Manly Creative Markets each Sunday and water sport events year-round, local experts predict the upward price trend will continue over the next 12 months. Would-be investors are advised to monitor new listings through well-established local agencies such as Sash & Gable Property and Ray White Manly, and to seek out prospects in neighbouring pockets like Lota and Wynnum for more options.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.