About Q Station
Located within a 33-hectare site on the North Head of Manly you will find a unique destination, that is Q Station. An enduring part of Sydney’s history, that once served as the Quarantine Station for migrants arriving in Australia, can now be experienced 365 days a year. Located in the Sydney Harbour National Park, Q Station offers a wide variety of experiences for day trips or overnight guests. Q Station is a fully integrated destination offering hotel accommodation, unique venues and outdoor sites for events, conferences and weddings, tours and educational programs including the well-known “after-dark tours”, direct access to Sydney Harbour and the Australian bush. Restaurants and bars offer a wide range of dining options from a light snack to a gourmet dining experience.
We’re very proud of our heritage here at Q Station and you’ll notice that the buildings have been kept in pristine original condition. Those iconic yellow paint colours, heavy window panes and high ceilings are all part of our building landscape.
To ensure safety and protect native wildlife, vehicle access is limited to Q Station vehicles. Free parking is available at our reception entrance. We encourage guests to walk or use our 24/7 complimentary shuttle bus to explore the site. Please exercise caution on inclines, steps, and uneven ground; appropriate footwear is required and heels are not recommended. While we maintain safe walkways, natural landscapes and historic structures may pose challenges – watch your step and use handrails where available. At night, lighting is limited due to park restrictions. Feel free to use your phone’s torch, but please stay within well-lit areas like the main accommodation zones. Do not approach or feed wildlife, as they are part of the park’s natural environment.
For safety and preservation, members of the public cannot bring BBQs, alcohol, animals, glass, stereo systems, or takeaway food onto the site or beach.
Q Station is committed to heritage preservation and sustainability – reducing plastic use, providing reusable items, and encouraging recycling throughout the park. Our goal is to protect the environment and preserve the natural beauty for future generations.
The hotel rooms are in fact the original accommodation areas that people migrating to Australia for the first time would have stayed in. In keeping with our heritage the accommodation is divided into first, second and third class. The old staff quarters now provide cottage accommodation that is ideal for small groups or families. Q Station is dedicated to preserving our heritage status and due to restrictions with building modifications, the accommodation rooms do not have air conditioning. However, they are all fitted with ceiling fans and heating for the cooler months.
If you’re looking for a truly unique experience that you cannot get anywhere else or looking to provide an educational and fun day outdoors, Q Station is the perfect place for you.
Oral History
The Quarantine Station has had a long and extremely varied history as a site of special significance in Australia. We encourage those who have a connection to the site to share their or their families’ experiences of living and/or working on the site with us, to ensure its ongoing legacy.
What is it?
Oral history is the systematic collection of living people’s testimony about their own experiences. Oral history is not folklore, gossip, hearsay or rumour.
Why is it important?
Q Station is working to redefine the full story of the Quarantine Station which was never thoroughly recorded. The real record of history is found in the lives of the ordinary people who lived it. Collecting, preserving and sharing oral histories not only transmits knowledge from one generation to the next, but allows us a sense of catching and holding something valuable from the receding tide of the Quarantine Station’s past.
How can you be involved?
If you know anyone who may have a connection to the site, please encourage them to contact us and tell their story. Submissions can be accepted by post, online, email (toursdesk@qstation.com.au) or phone (02 9466 1500). Submissions may be followed up with a recorded interview, to be kept within the Heritage Collection.