Proposed by Henry Gilbert Smith, the earliest developer of Manly who had a vision for this stretch of ground as a promenade with hotels, tearooms and entertainment.

The promenade was to be named after Via del Corso in Rome and it was to be the focal point of his planned new resort, called New Brighton or Manly Beach.

The Corso was built in 1855 as a boardwalk, the street allowed tourists to cross the sand spit between the harbour pier and ocean beach.

In 1961 The Mall which was walk-through two-storey shopping centre opened on the site of the former Odeon and was renamed to La Gallerie in 1989.

Vibrant lighting, water fountains, tree plantings, fresh new street furniture palettes, new tiles have been installed at The Corso.