Sydney to lose one of its most-loved attractions
Sydney is set to lose another one of its most-loved attractions, as Manly Sea Life Sanctuary made the shock announcement that it would be closing at the end of the year.
The aquarium has been an iconic attraction on the Northern Beaches, serving as the home to sharks, penguins, turtles and fish of all shapes and sizes for 50 years.
Merlin Entertainments Group, the conglomerate that runs the tourist attraction, reportedly believes the aquarium is no longer a viable business in a building that has seen better years. 40 staff members will be affected by the news.
The group will also be looking for new homes for the sea life in the aquarium, with 107 sharks and rays, 2000 fish, 500 invertebrates, as well as 19 penguins and 11 reptiles, expected to be distributed to other aquariums around Australia.
Divisional director Rob Smith told Manly Daily it was not an easy decision, “As a building it’s not a viable investment to keep on running it as an aquarium.
“From 1965 (when works begun to build the first aquarium on the site) to now, it has had lots of different additions, different elements added, which has overall impacted the lifespan of the building as an aquarium.”
Are you saddened by this announcement? Have you ever been to Manly Sea Life Sanctuary? If not, now might be the time to go!