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Produced and published by the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne
Published July 2008
Published July 2008
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A feature of bayside beaches since the 1840s, in a more modest era bathing boxes were once horse-drawn and used as changing rooms. Approximately 2000 exist on Port Phillip Bay from Brighton to Portsea. Government policy favoured their removal in the 1960s, but many are now valued as much for their tourist appeal as for their market value. The Brighton Bathing Box Association has since the 1930s co-ordinated, publicised and set standards for the 90 or so colourful boxes at Dendy Street. Moved to their present alignment in 1934, these are an unusually homogeneous group and have become a symbol of Melbourne's beach culture.