Some Local Swimming Spots from Earlier On
The first local swimmers here were the aboriginal peoples who fished and played in the waters off our beaches and in the Pittwater estuary. The first Europeans to swim here were those having a little look around in 1788. Then, of course, there were no roads as there are at present. A description supplied by Captain Hunter of an excursion made by a party from "the settlement" is interesting. Captain Hunter writes:—
"In the morning of June 13, 1788, we Intended to land well up this branch (Pittwater), in order to avoid the most difficult and tiresome part of the road to Port Jackson. We embarked after we had breakfasted, and rowed up about a couple of miles, when the party for walking went on shore, each with his arms and knapsack containing two days' provisions. We were about half an hour In getting through the wood which led to the sea coast, where we fell Into our own and well-known path, and by 4 o'clock In the afternoon arrived at tin? north part of Port Jackson; but we might as well have been fifty leagues off, for here we could have no communication either with the Sirius or the settlement, and no boat had been ordered to meet us. We went Immediately to work and made a large fire, by which we lay all night, which happened to be very cold,
"The next day we crossed the hills and came to the mouth of the north-west harbor, but could not find the means of crossing It. Muskets had been frequently fired during the night in the hopes that some boat might have been down the harbor fishing, and heard them. We found this morning a canoe upon the beach, with which we had no doubt of getting two men across the water, who could In a short time walk over to the cove where the Sirius lay; but this prospect was disappointed by the first man who entered the canoe having overset her, and she Immediately sank, and he was obliged to swim ashore. After this we went to work to make a catamaran of the lightest wood we could find, but when finished and launched it would not bear the weight of one man.
"It was now proposed to walk round the head of the north-west harbor, which would have been a good long Journey for at Ieast two days, and our provisions were nearly expended. To this proposal I was under the necessity of objecting for want of shoes, the last march having tore all but the soles from my feet, and they were tied on with spun-yarn. I therefore declined the proposed walk, and determined to go back to Broken Bay, and rejoin the boats. . .we were just upon the point of setting out when two of the people who were with us proposed swimming over the water and to cross through the wood to the Sirius. They immediately stripped, and each having had a dram they tied up in a handkerchief some clothes, which rested upon their shoulders. Thus equipped they took to the water, and in seven minutes landed on the opposite shore; but one, being seized with cramp, was obliged to disengage himself from his bundle, which was of course lost. They set off through the woods and in a short time got on board the ship— the one with his shirt and trousers, the other perfectly naked. Upon, their information a boat was sent down and took us on board, after a pretty fatiguing Journey."
Although people obviously utilised Narrabeen Lagoon and the coastal beaches for 'bathing' as it was then known, from the earliest times of European settlement, the fencing off of estuary 'bathing pools' to protect those having a dip from sharks, and the advertising of these when selling properties from the 1890's on, is our first clear proof of areas set aside and dedicated to the wonderful 'get in the briny'. This 'bathing place' tradition was continued in all those little cottages that would be rented out for the Summer months from the 1890's on.
The 1909 'Rock Bath' at Mona Vale was one of the earlier local pools constructed on the ocean side, the 1912 Palm Beach Land Sales brought a public pool to people:
County Cumberland, parish Narrabeen, below high-water mark, Pitt water, portion Sp. L. 1912 4 ; Ms. 3,922 Sy. Area, 1 rood 20 perches.
1917 -1176 Barranjoey Co., Ltd., 14 Castlereagh-st., Sydney. No. of Application – 1912 – 4, Metropolitan Bathing Place – from 1 Jan. 1917 to 31 Dec. 1921
Special Lease 1912 4, Metropolitan. Barrenjoey Company, Limited.—The lease shall be subject to subsections 1, 3, 4, G to 0, 11, and 13 of Regulation No. 10G (notified 20th April, 1917), and to the following special conditions:—(a) The lessees shall permit children attending any school in Warringah Shire, and in charge of teachers, to have the free use of the baths without payment on one day in each week between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., such children to provide their own towels and bathing costumes. (b) The lessees shall have not less than three life-buoys readily available at all times, (c) The lessees shall be responsible for the proper conduct and cleanliness of the baths, and shall compel bathers to wear suitable bathing costumes, (d) The lessees shall, after determination of the lease by forfeiture, effluxion of time, or otherwise, and within such time as may be given, remove the structure or all or any material from the land at their own cost, and without compensation, if required by the Minister in writing to do so. (e) The lessees shall, within six months from the date of notification in the Government Gazette of the granting of the extension of the term of the lease, enclose the land with a shark-proof fence, and maintain such fence in efficient repair throughout the currency of the lease. (f) A breach of any of the conditions, or the occurrence of any indecent or disorderly conduct, will render the lease liable to forfeiture. EXTENSION OF TERMS OF SPECIAL LEASES. (1917, November 2). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), p. 5968. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227328341
You can read a little more in Pittwater's Ocean Beach Rock Pools: Southern Corners Of Bliss - A History
It is the change in swimming 'costumes', or the unchanging in some cases, that most mark the changes of course, and once brought up questions such as 'should men wear skirts?' - not kilts - skirts;
Surf-Bathing'.
By 'Porpoise.'
SHOULD men wear skirts?
The reply of the local government authorities is, 'Yes; when they are surf-bathing.' It takes a small thing to amuse a whole city provided it happens to be the right thing, and unquestionably it was the 'right thing' on this occasion. The ukase went forth from certain Mayors — whose portraits are here given — that anyone indulging in surf-bathing in future should wear a certain costume, or be fined from £1 to £20. This peculiar dress seems to have absorbed the principal features of a long-sleeved jersey, a pair of trousers, and a woman's skirt. It is issued as a local government product, and was designed in a government department. A suitable decoration would be red tape along the seams. The Mayors of Randwick, Waverley, and Manly approved the costume, and there are divers penalties for those who offend. It becomes unlawful to expose the arm above the elbow. This is regarded as an important achievement. It is very hopeful indeed that the ordinance is an official matter. Anyone who had doubts of the costume at first cannot but admit that capable men probably designed it— men who had won departmental promotion with bridge designs, road-laying, planning out storm culverts, and so on. If such officials could not cut out a new combination skirt and trousers, who could?
It is pointed out that the trousers, which form part of the bathing combination, must extend to the bend of the knee. It is certainly an equitable dispensation that female as well as male bathers have to wear the trousers. It would have been manifestly unfair to hand the women's skirts over to the men in the absence of a fitting, indeed a well-fitting, quid pro quo. We rather think that there is room for other suggestions. It has struck many surf-bathers that a bald head among the gay, disporting groups looks singularly out of place. A bald man always looks as if he is catching cold, and you feel sorry for him, and unhappy, and in any event the sun dancing on his pate dazzles the eyes of other bathers, and prevents them seeing sharks. The bald man should be compelled to wear a cap. Then, again, there may be some aldermen and other people who have as much objection to looking at a leg below the knee as the Mayors of Randwick, Waverley, and Manly have to catching a chance glimpse of a naughty pink arm between the elbow and the shoulder. Every calf is not a thing of beauty, we regret to say, and if we are to cultivate an aesthetic taste we should take no risks, but insist on all bathers wearing trousers reaching to the ankles. But would we stop here? On the same ground there is an objection to the human foot. If there is any part of the human form that is unpicturesque it is the foot, and we are surprised that the Mayors of Randwick. Waverley, and Manly, and the local government officials, overlooked this fact. The foot must go. The Government Architect will no doubt be able 10 design a suitable surf-bathing boot. With these amendments the ordinance would have wide approval. If it were still found that too much of the human form were occasionally seen, the ordinance might be further amended by limiting the bathing hours to between 9 p.m. and 4.30 a.m.— moonlight nights excepted. The men who delight to lie in the sun are to be 'moved on' — another great reform. They will in future be located in rocky recesses on the coastal cliffs. If these rules do not cope with the evil of popular enjoyment and healthful pastime, a further amendment could be introduced to build breakwaters along all Australian beaches to keep the surf out altogether.
THE SKIRT COSTUME.
This is the new skirt costume which by local government ordinance is to be forced upon all Sydney surf-bathers. The bathers are up in arms. The costume is the principal topic of conversation among thousands of them. It may be observed that two costumes are being worn by the bather shown above. The skirt costume having short sleeves, another jersey was put on underneath, to show the long sleeves required by the ordinance. The picture as a whole is accurate. Our idea is that the skirt and trousers are unnecessarily long and awkward. There is no reason why they should extend lower than midway between the hip and the knee. Nor is there any reason for sleeves to the elbow. Some swimmers at Manly are wearing a Canadian costume that meets all requirements. It is sleeveless, and has a short 'apron' or 'skirt.'
Photo, by Talma Studios, 374 George-street, Sydney. J. C. McDOUGALL, Mayor of Randwick, whose name is associated with the skirt proposition.
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Photo, by Newman. R. G. WATKINS, Mayor of Waverley, the principal advocate of the costume shown on this page.
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Photo, by Henry M. Ashby. J. LEARMONTH, Mayor of Manly, who is reported to have approved the Skirt Costume.
Surf-Bathing. (1907, October 16). The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), p. 1013. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163661155
"In the surf, Mona Vale" ca. 1900-1927, Sydney & Ashfield : Broadhurst Post Card Publishers Image No. a106014 from the collections of the State Library of NSW.