McIver Women's Baths facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McIver Women's Baths |
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The Entrance to McIver Women's Baths
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| Location | Grant Reserve, Coogee, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1876–1886 |
| Owner | Randwick City Council |
| Official name: McIver Women's Baths; Coogee Women's Pool; Ladies Baths | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 18 November 2011 |
| Reference no. | 1869 |
| Type | Swimming Pool - tidal |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
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The McIver Women's Baths is a special swimming spot in Coogee, Australia. It's a heritage-listed site, meaning it's important to history. It was built between 1876 and 1886 and is also known as the Coogee Women's Pool or Ladies Baths. The Randwick City Council owns this unique place, which was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 2011. It's known for being a women-only swimming area.
Contents
History of the Baths
First People's Connection
Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the Eora people lived in this area. They were a large Aboriginal group who used the coast and harbour for fishing, gathering food, and fun. It's believed that Aboriginal women used the spot where the McIver Baths are now for bathing. This shows how important the coast was to the Eora people's way of life.
Early European Use
When early European settlers came to Sydney, they loved to swim in the harbour. The weather was hot, and the water was easy to reach. Doctors at the time even said that swimming in salt water was good for your health!
Public Swimming Rules
Over time, rules were made about public swimming. The first public bathhouse for men opened in 1826, and one for women followed in the 1830s. However, people still swam in open water, which led to new laws in 1833. These laws banned swimming near public places during the day (6 AM to 8 PM). Breaking this rule meant a big fine!
These rules were partly about keeping things "proper" in public. But they also helped protect swimmers from sharks, which were attracted to waste being dumped into the harbour. As Sydney grew, and people had more free time and money, building swimming pools became very popular.
Coogee quickly became known for its beautiful beach. People started visiting and living there even before it officially became a village in 1838. Reports suggest the baths were used as early as the 1830s. At first, women had limited access to men's pools. But the McIver Baths, a natural rock pool, became very popular. So, in 1876, Randwick Council improved it, adding concrete walls, and officially opened it as a 'women's-only' swimming spot. This gave women a private place to swim.
Ocean pools were also seen as safe places to swim, protecting people from drowning. In the early 1800s, many people couldn't swim well, and their heavy clothes made drowning more likely. As swimming became more popular, learning to swim and saving lives became important skills for everyone. This was the start of Australia's famous beach culture!
Swimming lessons for girls became common in schools in New South Wales. Swimming was seen as a graceful exercise for women. It was thought to hide any signs of hard physical effort, helping women keep a "proper" image in society.
Even at the start of the 1900s, the daylight swimming ban from 1833 was still in place. But in 1902, a man named William Gocher decided to challenge it. He swam at Manly Beach three Sundays in a row. On the third time, he was arrested in front of a huge crowd! This led to the law changing in 1903. Now, people could swim during the day, but they had to wear special neck-to-knee swimsuits. Also, swimmers had to leave the beach right after swimming, and men and women couldn't mix or socialize with people who were dressed.
Competitive Swimming
Around this time, the McIver Women's Baths changed how it was managed. The State Government had given Randwick Council the job of looking after the baths. But from 1918, a private family, Robert and Rose McIver, took over. They improved the baths to how they look today. Rose McIver also helped start the Randwick and Coogee Ladies Amateur Swimming Club in 1923. This club then took over managing the baths and still does today!
Swimming as a sport became very popular. It was easy to watch and didn't cost much. While the McIver Women's Baths weren't used for competitions (because of their shape), many important female swimmers learned there. Young girls like Sarah "Fanny" Durack and Wilhelmina "Mina" Wylie often swam at the baths. They later became the first women to win gold and silver medals in swimming at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games! This was the first Olympics where women were allowed to compete in swimming (in the 100m freestyle).
Before the Olympics, Durack and Wylie almost couldn't go because of strict rules about men and women swimming separately. In 1906, the New South Wales Ladies Amateur Swimming Association (NSWLASA) was created to manage women's swimming. This group, led by Rose Scott, kept strict separation at places like the McIver Women's Baths. They even banned male relatives from watching! They also had strict rules about swimsuits for female competitors.
However, many people disagreed with these strict rules. By 1912, because of public demand, the separation rules for competitive swimming events were removed.
Even though most swimming clubs started mixing genders, the McIver Women's Baths remained a women-only place. The Randwick Coogee Ladies Amateur Swimming Club has managed it since 1923. It's still a popular spot for many women, including older women, women with disabilities, and those from Catholic and Islamic communities, who prefer to swim in privacy.
In 1995, to protect its special purpose for women, the baths were given an exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. This means it can legally remain a women-only area, and this is something the women who use it really value.
About the Baths
The McIver Women's Baths are located on a rock platform south of Coogee Beach. It's a natural ocean pool, about 20 meters long. It was made deeper and more formal in the 1800s to create a safe swimming area. The pool is affected by tides and waves, and it has amazing views of the surrounding beaches and cliffs.
You get to the baths from Grants Reserve. Trees and winding concrete paths help keep the baths private. There are also stairs that lead directly to the water. The baths also have some simple buildings with facilities like changing rooms.
Condition of the Baths
The baths have been used since the 1870s (and possibly even earlier). Because they are right by the ocean, the weather has affected the baths over time. Parts of the baths have been repaired or replaced many times to keep them safe and usable. The goal is to keep the baths open for the community, not necessarily to keep every original piece of material.
Why it's Important
As of 2011, the McIver Women's Baths are very important to the history of New South Wales. It's believed to be the only swimming place specifically for women that has been used continuously in New South Wales, and maybe even all of Australia! It was officially recognized in 1876, but women have used it since the 1830s. It has always been a safe and private place for women to swim and learn water safety.
The baths are also linked to the rise of competitive swimming in New South Wales. Even though competitions weren't held there, famous swimmers like Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie practiced their skills at the baths. They went on to win gold and silver medals at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, which was the first time women could compete in Olympic swimming.
The McIver Women's Baths are also very important to the women of New South Wales. For generations, women have visited and used this beautiful, natural swimming spot. Its privacy as a women-only facility has attracted many different women, including mothers with children, elderly women, women with disabilities, and women from Islamic and Catholic communities.
In 1995, the baths were given a special exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, which confirmed its purpose as a women's area. Its continued use shows how much the female community values this place.
The McIver Women's Baths were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 2011 because it met several important criteria:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: It's likely the only women-only swimming spot in continuous use in NSW (and possibly Australia). It shows how women's swimming and water safety developed. It also shows how gender separation in swimming changed over time, as it remained women-only when many others didn't.
- It's linked to important people: Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie, who became the first Australian women to win Olympic swimming medals, learned their skills here. Their success helped remove restrictions on women in competitive swimming.
- It has beautiful features: The baths are a great example of how a built structure can fit beautifully into a natural environment. The views of the ocean, bays, and cliffs add to its special value.
- It's important to a community: It has great social value for women in New South Wales. Since the 1830s, it has been a place for swimming and learning water safety for generations of women. Its privacy and beauty attract many different women today.
- It can teach us more about history: The way the natural rock platform was changed into a swimming facility shows great skill in design and construction. It also has the potential to teach us more about how Aboriginal women used the site before European settlement.
- It's rare: It's possibly the only swimming facility in NSW (and maybe Australia) that is still reserved only for women. It's also rare because it has a special exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. However, as an ocean pool, it's not rare, as there are many others along the NSW coast.
- It represents a type of place: It's a good example of the many ocean baths built on natural rock platforms along the NSW coast, showing how these natural areas were adapted for swimming in the late 1800s.
