OBJECT TITLE / NAME

View of Mornington near Melbourne

DATE1900 to 1920

MEDIAImage

COLLECTIONMornington and District Historical Society

REG NO.1488.2

HISTORY

Sea bathing in specially erected structures built over the water enjoyed a heyday of popularity in the latter part of the 19th century, and the early 1900’s. The Baths which were built at the base of a cliff between Shire Hall Beach and the Pier at Mornington offered facilities of dressing rooms and diving boards. They continued to be used by large numbers of people up to and beyond the time of World War 2. In the 1890’s the proprietor was William Irvine, who advertised the bathing hours at his Royal Baths with different times for gentlemen and ladies, so they didn’t bath together.

DESCRIPTION

This is an image looking across the Bay from the headland. In the foreground is shrubbery, and the Mornington Baths can be seen, in the sea below.

KEYWORDS

Baths, sea, Mornington, Port Phillip Bay