Gerringong - remnants of the Men's Baths 04
This view shows the old pool that was once the Gerringong Men's Baths on the rock platform at Gerringong 's Boatharbour. If these walls could talk, they would have a story about the enthusiasm for creating a men-only ocean pool at Gerringong in 1911 because of the frustration caused by having separate hours for men and women at the existing ocean pool in Gerringong. Seaweed build-up in this pool became so bad in the late 1920s, that Gerringong men claimed it forced them to use the women's baths, which were better-sited and less seaweed-prone. A change of pool meant a change in the bathing costumes that men wore at the pool. At the men's baths, it had been acceptable for men to wear bathing costumes that were not considered suitable for mixed or 'continental' bathing. Once mixed bathing was accepted in Gerringong, this pool was abandoned in favour of the earier better-sited pool and men had to wear bathing costumes that were considered suitable for mixed bathing. (My ref:DS68/June 04)
For more information on the ocean baths along the NSW coast, check out the NSW Ocean Baths website www.nswoceanbaths.info
Gerringong - remnants of the Men's Baths 04
This view shows the old pool that was once the Gerringong Men's Baths on the rock platform at Gerringong 's Boatharbour. If these walls could talk, they would have a story about the enthusiasm for creating a men-only ocean pool at Gerringong in 1911 because of the frustration caused by having separate hours for men and women at the existing ocean pool in Gerringong. Seaweed build-up in this pool became so bad in the late 1920s, that Gerringong men claimed it forced them to use the women's baths, which were better-sited and less seaweed-prone. A change of pool meant a change in the bathing costumes that men wore at the pool. At the men's baths, it had been acceptable for men to wear bathing costumes that were not considered suitable for mixed or 'continental' bathing. Once mixed bathing was accepted in Gerringong, this pool was abandoned in favour of the earier better-sited pool and men had to wear bathing costumes that were considered suitable for mixed bathing. (My ref:DS68/June 04)
For more information on the ocean baths along the NSW coast, check out the NSW Ocean Baths website www.nswoceanbaths.info