Strict rules surrounded bathing in the late 1800s
From the day Manly was founded, bathing was something that residents and visitors alike were attracted to. Its founder, HG Smith, quickly catered for this by building a bath house at the western end of Manly Cove containing hot and cold baths.
However, society had strict rules about what was considered appropriate dress and behaviour. Neither publicly-exposed nor mixed bathing were allowed.
With the formation of Manly as a municipality in 1877, the council played its part. In 1880 it announced that it was going to build a Gentlemen’s Baths at the eastern end of Manly Cove and a Ladies’ Baths adjacent to Smith’s original bath house. Influential residents objected to the planned location of the Gentlemen’s Baths and they were built at Little Manly.
However, by 1892 the Little Manly Baths were dilapidated and council built new Gentlemen’s Baths in its originally planned location in Manly Cove.
By 1898 there was some relenting on mixed bathing (which was called ‘Continental’ bathing). It was permitted for limited hours in the Gentlemen’s Baths. In 1920, as summer approached, Manly Council advised the manager of those baths that he could allow mixed bathing from 6am until closing time. As these were the full opening hours, segregated bathing had ended.
This decision had an unforeseen consequence. For recreation and fitness, trainee priests based at St Patrick’s College on Eastern Hill were regular users of the men’s baths. Their superiors now decided that they could not be exposed to aquatic females.
Archbishop Kelly, the ‘occupant’ of the adjacent Cardinal’s Palace whose land ran down to Spring Cove, agreed to a tidal pool being built there. It was in use for 30 years until it was damaged in a storm in 1956. Rather than rebuilding it, a modern concrete pool was constructed in the college grounds.
Acknowledgement to John Morcombe for his research.
Richard Michell is the vice-president of the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Historical Society and the secretary of Friends of Dee Why Lagoon. Visit mwphs.org.au and fodyl.au