There are a number of significant heritage and environmental aspects to this area including important indigenous history relating to the interaction between the First Fleet and the local indigenous people.

Heritage items in West Esplanade include:

• Pavilion c1933 (State item).
• Manly Cove Amenities (toilet) Block c1933 (LEP item).
• Governor Phillip Monument c1928 (LEP item).
• Manly Art Gallery & Museum c1924 (original façade covered by extension).
• The Park (LEP item).

There was also the Manly Boardwalk c1931 which was destroyed in a storm in 1974.

Environmental aspects of the area include:

• endangered seagrass, sea horses, little penguins and long-nosed bandicoots
• soft and hard corals
• threatened grey-headed flying foxes
• pockets of remnant bushland.