Majorshots
Melbourne City Baths
Fabulous old public baths building, near to Melbourne Gaol on Victoria Street. Melbourne City Council opened the first City Baths in January 1860 which housed public baths. The objective was to stop people from bathing in the Yarra River, which by the 1850s had become quite polluted and the cause of an epidemic of typhoid fever which hit the city resulting in many deaths However, people continued to swim and drink the water. The Baths were leased to a private operator, but lack of maintenance resulted in such deterioration of the building that the Baths were closed in 1899.
After a design competition was won by John James Clark, construction of a new building started in 1903, and the bath was opened in March 1904. Strict separation of men and women was maintained, right down to separate street entrances. Two classes of facilities were maintained, with second class baths in the basement and first class baths on the main floor. The popularity of the swimming pool increased with the introduction of mixed bathing in 1947. The Baths now house a swimming pool, spa, sauna, squash courts and a gymnasium.
Melbourne City Baths
Fabulous old public baths building, near to Melbourne Gaol on Victoria Street. Melbourne City Council opened the first City Baths in January 1860 which housed public baths. The objective was to stop people from bathing in the Yarra River, which by the 1850s had become quite polluted and the cause of an epidemic of typhoid fever which hit the city resulting in many deaths However, people continued to swim and drink the water. The Baths were leased to a private operator, but lack of maintenance resulted in such deterioration of the building that the Baths were closed in 1899.
After a design competition was won by John James Clark, construction of a new building started in 1903, and the bath was opened in March 1904. Strict separation of men and women was maintained, right down to separate street entrances. Two classes of facilities were maintained, with second class baths in the basement and first class baths on the main floor. The popularity of the swimming pool increased with the introduction of mixed bathing in 1947. The Baths now house a swimming pool, spa, sauna, squash courts and a gymnasium.