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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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Melbourne's beaches have gradually changed from resorts to suburbs. At Sandridge (Port Melbourne) in 1842, the Liardet family's Pier Hotel provided 'a spacious and convenient swimming bath, shower and warm baths', and fishing and sailing as an escape from the sweltering town. Their ferry to shipping and coach to Melbourne heralded Station Pier, which attracted industry and housing during the gold rush.
Attention leapt to St Kilda which in the 1840s, with Brighton, was an upper-class retreat. Hotels encouraged visitors to fish, sail, bathe and picnic. Picnic Point (Sandringham) and Mentone were reached by land or small steamer.
From the late 1850s to the 1930s larger vessels made regular visits to Schnapper Point (Mornington) and Sorrento. These were great times for fishing, which has remained a major activity from boats and piers.
Railways opened up many suburban resorts, reaching St Kilda in 1857, Brighton Beach (1862), Sandringham (1882) and Frankston via Mentone (1882). Trams connected Black Rock (1919) and Beaumaris (1926). To the west, Williamstown and Altona tell a separate story, cut off by the Williamstown rifle range and Point Cook air base, and linked to the working-class suburbs of Footscray and Sunshine. They had much in common socially with the 'Long Beach' from Mordialloc to Carrum, where summer campers and then suburbia occupied a narrow low-lying strip west of the rail and highway.
Railway electrification in the 1920s put all beaches firmly on the city's leisure map. The vegetation and charm depicted by Heidelberg School artists were threatened. Beginning at South Melbourne and St Kilda, kiosks and palms framed the water. Motor cars produced paving and crowds. Pressure of numbers brought formality.
Initially, because a fresh water supply was scarce, quiet beaches provided 'the luxury and healthfulness of sea-bathing without fear of danger or interruption'. Horse-drawn bathing machines were tried before Mrs Ford (for ladies in 1853), and Captain Kenney (1854) built palisades at St Kilda. Bathing naked required gender segregation by rotation at beaches and public baths, although at St Kilda in 1881 the 'Hot Sea Baths' were gender-specific: three female and two male. Private bathing boxes for changing became common, like those extant at Dendy Street, Brighton.
Warm water encouraged swimming. Thousands cheered scantily clad competitors at Kenney's summer carnivals around 1860, and the poet 'Orion' Horne performed 'fancy swimming' naked. Until the 1930s most major competitions were held at sea baths. In the 20th century private bathrooms made sea-bathing recreational and encouraged fashionable costuming which has gone from neck-to-knee to next-to-nothing. The young flouted Church attitudes and official segregation with open mixed bathing. They ignored Sunday restrictions. As the social revolution spread, public changing facilities were needed. Again St Kilda led. In 1928 pavilions were built at Beaconsfield Parade, Marine Parade and Elwood. In 1931 mixed bathing began at large new baths. Families were delighted, and the Bay became their Mecca. Surf-lifesaving clubs were established to protect them, both in the relative safety of the Port Phillip Bay beaches, as well as at the back beaches facing Bass Strait on the eastern flank of the Mornington Peninsula.
In the later 19th century merry-go-rounds, kiosks and sideshows developed. Mostly seasonal, unlike Luna Park, at St Kilda, they petered out during the 20th century in favour of restaurants. Most baths also disappeared, victims of in-ground pools. Yachting has flourished through clubs in Williamstown (1853), Brighton (1875), St Kilda (1876) and later in most suburbs. Immense storm damage at moorings has triggered breakwaters which, like piers, have obstructed tidal movement and caused beach silting and scouring. The 1956 Olympic sailing was centred on Brighton.
The beach at the end of Kerferd Road South Melbourne is one of the first to crowd in hot weather, and was the first beach where going topless became the norm. St Kilda beach has been a popular setting in literature, and has a central and enduring role in Melbourne's culture: for Hal Porter (The paper chase, 1966), St Kilda was 'an Aussie Cannes with a better beach'.
Although rubbish and water pollution have driven people further afield since the 1960s, those stuck in Melbourne on scorching days still flock to the beaches and 'slip, slop, slap' to avoid cancers common among mid-century sunbathers. Power boats, requiring launching ramps, marinas and more water police, have become common. Many occupy high-rise pigeonholes at St Kilda or are moored inland beside homes at Patterson Lakes. Jet skiers and sailboarders compete with bathers for inshore water. Change is also reflected in the interest of postwar immigrants in shellfish. Population pressure has brought awareness and concern about the fragility of coastal systems and the health of the Bay.