Women at the Pool
Women at the Pool
Beach swimming in Sydney in the early 1900s saw a number of restrictions imposed on beach-goers by lawmakers determined to maintain a strict level of moral decorum. As elsewhere a ban on 'daylight bathing' required swimmers to leave the water by 7am as well as restrictions on 'mixed bathing'.
When the Baths opened women were segregated from men either because of physical barriers or restricted access times. Men couldn't even attend women's swimming carnivals. In the late 19th century neck to knee bathing costumes for both men and women hampered swimming. Often made of wool they became extremely heavy when wet. Annette Kellerman championed the fitted one piece bathing costume and was even arrested in 1907 for wearing one that reached to just above her knees. Kellerman went on to star in movies and launched a range of one piece swimsuits.
“As the Balmain Borough Council will on Tuesday next have under their consideration the tenders for the additions to the above baths, it is not, perhaps, too late to suggest … Another and more important alteration … would permit of the ladies having the use of the new portion of the baths every day, except perhaps on Saturday afternoon and Sunday mornings. This could easily be arranged by a lifting partition being fixed at the boundary of the present baths. … We have heard a good deal about ladies' baths and swimming contests, and we hope the aldermen will show some gallantry, by providing for increased accommodation for the fair sex at the baths in both the modes suggested above. The division of the baths would not inconvenience the male dolphins, and the partition could be made of say sheet-iron.”
Balmain Observer and Western Suburbs Advertiser. (1888)
The growth of swimming saw the formation of the NSW Women’s Amateur Association in 1906. The 50yds Ladies Championship of Australasia had been held two years earlier at Farmers Rushcutters Bay Baths and the competitors included two Balmain women. E. McPherson and M. Doyle, along with Mina Wylie (Coogee), Dorothy Hill (North Sydney) and Fanny Durack (Sydney).
“The first aquatic sports of the recently formed Balmain Ladies' Swimming Club was held at the Elkington Park Baths yesterday afternoon. The attendance was large, and numbered close on 300 spectators, all of whom with the exception of a few officials and the representatives of the press were ladies.”
The Australian Star. (1895)
“The recent drowning accident at Elkington Park Baths, Balmain, whereby a young lady lost her life, brings forcibly to mind the necessity that exists for the employment of competent lady swimmers ... In some instances there were absolutely no lady attendants, and in others those employed in that capacity were unable to swim at all arrangements now being made to have a particular day in each week set apart for ladies only, so that the girls of our public schools might have greater facilities for acquiring and developing the art of swimming, …”
The Daily Telegraph. (1898)
“This club, which was established, a few weeks ago, consists of fully forty members. … The first appearance of the new Club in public was at the Balmain Swimming Club sports, when Madame Laurie and one of the young ladies gave a display of fancy swimming. Several of the members of the ladies’ club also took part in the ladies' race.”
Poneke. (1887)
“There is no more glorious, healthy, or invigorating pastime than swimming a fact that is thoroughly appreciated by large numbers of the fair sex in Sydney and suburbs. … with the result that there are several ladies' clubs flourishing in and around the city. Though it is certainly arguable, it seems a matter for regret, that the various Sydney ladies' clubs have decided to exclude the "mere man" from witnessing their displays and carnivals …”
Aquarius. (1907)
“Bathing is now the favourite recreation in Sydney. The ladies are provided for by Mrs. Bigges's accommodations, while every part of the banks, both of Darling Harbour and round the Government Domain, is, morning after morning, thronged with the other sex.”
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. (1834)
References
- Knight, K. (1984). Celebrating a centenary - Balmain Swimming Club, 1884-1984. Inner West Council Library & History Services. [online] Available at: https://innerwest.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/OPAC/WRKENQ?SETLVL=&IRN=39337576
- Balmain Observer and Western Suburbs Advertiser. (1888). Elkington Park Baths - Sat 23 June 1888. Balmain Observer and Western Suburbs Advertiser. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article132303233.txt
- Ibbetson, F. (2020). A History of Women's Swimwear. Fashion History Timeline. [online] Available at: https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/a-history-of-womens-swimwear/
- McIver's Ladies Baths. (n.d.). McIver's Ladies Baths at Coogee. McIver's Ladies Baths. [online] Available at: https://www.mciversladiesbaths.com/history
- The Daily Telegraph. (1898). ATTENDANTS AT LADIES' BATHS, 7 Nov 1898, pg. 4. The Daily Telegraph. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/239477660
- Poneke. (1887). Rowing and Sailing Notes, Sat 26 Mar 1887. Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919). [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71679018
- Aquarius. (1907). Our Fair Swimmers. Ladies and their Clubs. How the Sport is Progressing, Wed 27 November 1907, pg 29. Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919). [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71598992/5717728
- Local History - Sutherland Shire Libraries. (n.d.). Bathing Laws in the Early 1900s. Local Studies Collection, Sutherland Shire Libraries. [online] Available at: https://localhistory.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/103817
- Campbell, J.T. (1810). GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS - Sat 6 Oct 1810. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842). [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/628088
- Cramer, L. (2022). Wool swimsuits used to be standard beachwear – is it time to bring them back?. The Conversation. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/wool-swimsuits-used-to-be-standard-beachwear-is-it-time-to-bring-them-back-195103
- Lewi, H. (2017). From segregation to celebration: the public pool in Australian culture. The Conversation. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/from-segregation-to-celebration-the-public-pool-in-australian-culture-82916
- Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. (1834). Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842). [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2215434
- The Australian Star. (1895). Swimming. The Balmain Ladies' S.C. Carnival. The Australian Star (Sydney, NSW : 1887 - 1909). [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227101668