A to Z of Tauranga Museum: B is for Bathing Suits

 

Image courtesy of Tauranga Museum, Robert Gale Collection, 0005/20/539

As the Bay of Plenty summer continues to be hot and locals and visitors alike flock to the coast, it’s hard to miss how deeply beach culture is woven into our identity. From sun-soaked days on Mount Maunganui beaches to the salty breeze off Te Awanui, these experiences have shaped our city’s character for generations. The Tauranga Museum holds a treasure trove of artifacts that tell this story.

Gifted by Tauranga Historical Society, Tauranga Museum, 0230/11

Its collection captures the essence of seaside leisure: beach umbrellas for shade, surf boards for thrill-seekers, picnic baskets for family outings, and even a bottle of Q-tol – the once-popular lotion that soothed sunburn long before we understood the importance of sunscreen.

                                1930s swimsuit, made in England.               Early 1980s Expozay, made in Tauranga.
                                       Tauranga Museum, 0151/16                           Tauranga Museum, 0032/14

But the real stars of the collection might be the bathing suits. With 83 suits spanning more than a century, this collection charts the evolution of beachwear - from modest woollen costumes to sleek Lycra designs. Many of the suits reflect not only innovation in materials and design but also changing attitudes toward fashion and freedom of expression.

For example, the museum holds two Jantzen swimsuits that were manufactured in Wellington by A.J. Coleman Ltd under licence from the American brand.  They were the height of style in their respective decades. During the 1930s and 40s, new fabrics emerged, sleeves vanished, and bold colours became the norm – as seen in a striking bright blue swimsuit:

1930s-1940s Jantzen swimsuit. Tauranga Museum, 0019/00

 Moving forward to the 1970s, and designers were embracing Lycra, a revolutionary fabric that allowed for greater flexibility and comfort. This floral swimsuit illustrates the shift toward vibrant patterns and figure-hugging styles that defined the decade:

1970s Jantzen swimsuit. Tauranga Museum, 0266/11

Beach Culture and Bathing Costumes

Swimming in Tauranga harbour, circa 1910s: From left to right, Rennie Daines, Connie Humphreys, Mamey Hesket, Rennie Hesket. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Photo 04-041

While it may be the dead of winter, the importance of beach culture to our city’s identity has been on my mind. Happily, the TaurangaHeritage Collection has a fantastic array of artifacts connected to long hot summer days spent at the beach, from parasols and skurfing boards to picnic baskets and Q-tol.

Indeed, our collection of eighty-three bathing costumes, spanning more than 100 years, highlights innovation in materials and design as well as changing attitudes around what we are willing to expose to the sun, and each other. While Victorian morals had swimmers completely covered, and often in tents or bathing machines, by the 1910s Edwardians were seeking more practical costumes which would allow for movement, and fun, in the water. The push for more freedom was championed by celebrities such as Annette Kellermann, a professional Australian swimmer and diver credited with being the first woman to wear a one-piece suit.

Left: A ‘Petone’ Canadian style swimsuit made in New Zealand. Tauranga Heritage Collection 0044/12. Right: Postcard of "Miss Annette Kellermann, Champion Lady Swimmer and Diver of the World." Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0095/23

Known in this part of the world as a ‘Canadian’ swimsuit, presumably after its country of origin, the costume seen above was made by the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company and sold under the brand ‘Petone’. This style was worn by men, women and children and simplified earlier bathing costumes. Often made from machine-knitted cotton, this suit is woollen and has two buttons along the shoulder line to make it possible to get into (the shorts are attached to the top), and a small label declares that it is ‘OS’ or one size.

Left: ‘Pacific’ swimsuit. Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0385/87. Right: Kitty Hardy (centre) with two companions at the main Mount beach circa 1920s. Borrell Collection, Tauranga Heritage Collection

Other New Zealand textile manufacturers also entered the swimwear market in the 1910s. Lane, Walker Rudkin Ltd, who up until the early 2000s was one of New Zealand’s most successful clothing companies, is well represented in our collection. Initially known for its ‘Pacific’ brand, the company went on to make swimsuits under their ‘Canterbury’ label and were also licenced to make ‘Speedo’ and ‘Catalina’. In the 1930s they pioneered the use of elasticised woollen fabrics and were quick to capitalise on the trend of men baring their torsos.

Left: Speedo bathing trunks. Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0015/00. Right: Standing in shallow water at Mount main beach from left, Ira Taylor (wearing Speedo), Yvonne Tootell, Alectina Gunn, Barry Tootell and Monty Tootell circa 1940-41. Arabin Collection, Tauranga Heritage Collection

In the 1930s and 40s new fabrics were introduced, sleeves disappeared, and the two-piece reappeared having first been worn in ancient Rome. Swimsuits in vibrant colours were produced and sold with matching rubber caps. The American label ‘Jantzen’, licenced to New Zealand company A. J. Coleman Ltd, transported Hollywood trends to our beaches with stars Ginger Rogers and Loretta Young featured in their 1930s advertisements.

Left: A green Jantzen suit made of tufted cotton, also known as chenille, featuring adjustable straps. Middle: This suit has “Shouldaire” technology which allowed the wearer to drop their shoulder straps for ‘strap-free tanning’ - it was controversial when launched by Jantzen in 1931. Right: A bright red woollen Roslyn suit. Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0071/18, 0268/11, 0060/93

Post WW2, achieving the right look was often more important than a swimsuit’s practicality or even durability. Boning, firm bra cups, and rubber lining were deployed to give the wearer an hourglass shape. The Princess Bathing Suit, which generally had a sweetheart neckline and a tight skirt covering the front, and sometimes the back, epitomised the glamourous style of the 1950s.

Left: This striped suit was designed to highlight the wearers femininity and features ruching, a synched waist, and removable straps for sunbathing. Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0021/08. Right: ‘Bathing beauties on the beach’ Matakana Island, circa 1950s. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Photo 01-334

Bikini clad sun-bathers on the main Mount beach. Neal Collection, Tauranga Heritage Collection

The 1960s saw the explosion of youth and surf culture which pushed for change. The bikini began to outsell the two-piece, with ‘Bond-girl’ Ursula Andress and magazines such as Sports Illustrated playing their part in its popularity. Men’s swimwear also shrank with ‘briefs’ making an appearance at the 1972 Olympic games. During the 1970s swimwear designers finally let go any inhibitions and embraced the benefits of Lycra - a relatively new fabric that allowed everything to stay in place. String bikinis, thongs, shear fabric and cut-outs were increasingly popular as ‘sexy’ became fashionable. 

Left: Expozay bikini. Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0014/00. Right: Emroce 'G's up She's in it' bikini. Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0164/23/1-2

In 1976, locals Judy and Tony Alvos were inspired to start their own swimwear company, Expozay, which embodied this spirit. By 1982 their designs were being exported around the world and the company employed 120 people, making over 1000 swimsuits a day – right here in Tauranga. Today the local swimwear industry continues with businesses such as Papamoa based Emroce garnering international attention with its focus on eco-conscious design and fabrics, as well as inclusivity. In 2023 we were delighted to add several of Emroce’s swimsuits to our collection.

Planes and Beaches

Boeing floatplane on Tauranga Harbour, 12 March 1920
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-133

On 12th March 1920 a seaplane crossed the Waikareao Estuary, flew over the Domain and the Military Cemetery to the harbour where the pilot began his descent. He flew in a wide circle towards Whareroa and executed a perfect landing on the water opposite Victoria Wharf then taxied to the beach south of the Town Wharf.

Two hours 14 minutes earlier the seaplane had left Auckland with the pilot Mr. G. B. Bolt and Dr. H. W. Cleary, Catholic Bishop of Auckland aboard. Dr. Cleary was making a pastoral visit to Tauranga, Opotiki and Whakatane. Also on board was the mail to be delivered at various spots along the way.

A large crowd had gathered to witness the plane’s arrival including a group of excited children from the Tauranga District High School who had been given permission to leave their lessons. The mayor Mr. B. Dive and several councillors were present. “Mr Dive said the arrival of the seaplane marked the first air flight to Tauranga but the time was coming when these machines would be as plentiful as cars.” The seaplane left at 11.00am, crossing Hopukiore (Mt. Drury) and heading down the coast to Whakatane and Opotiki. (The Bay of Plenty Times, 12/03/1920)

A beach can be a very handy place to land a small plane as the following photos prove.

Ocean Beach, Mount Maunganui showing aeroplane approaching
Postcard photograph by John Welsh, c. 1922-1924
Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0341/10

“Walsh Bros. Aeroplane will be making passenger flights at the Mount from 2 p.m.. tomorrow. Fares as usual. If wind unfavourable for the Mount flights will be made from the Waikareao beach.” (The Bay of Plenty Times, 29 April 1922)
“An aeroplane flew over the town this morning, it approached from the south- west and landed on the Ocean Beach at Mount Maunganui.” (The Bay of Plenty Times, 29 March 1924)

A plane lands on Ocean Beach, c. 1930
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī, Ref. 03-043

 

A solo pilot ... Early days of flying Tasman" Ocean Beach, Mount Maunganui, c. 1930
Unmounted Kodak Velox vernacular photographic print (57x81mm)
Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0217/08

Seaplane at Waikorire (Pilot Bay), Mount Maunganui, c. 1960s
Postcard by N.S. Seaward’s Studio, Broad Bay, Dunedin (Scenic New Zealand Series).
Image collection of Justine Neal

Reo Moana

Mount Maunganui main beach. R.J.Rendell photographer
Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection

It was not only in Napier that Art Deco and the various styles of Spanish Mission architecture appeared in New Zealand in the 1930s.  Most towns still have some flat roofed, stucco dwellings sometimes with decorative motifs and some quite plain. Originating in the south west states of North America the Spanish Mission style was popular in new world countries especially where the climate is similar to California. It first arrived in New Zealand with the construction of the Auckland Grammar School building in 1913 and the style became popular in the following years in domestic architecture. The characteristic pastel coloured walls, clay tiled parapets, arched windows, balconies, tiles and wrought iron appear in various levels of detail.

Reo Moana. Limmer family collection

There are few of the original bachs and holiday homes left in Mount Maunganui that were built prior to the Second World War. They suddenly disappear and a new building appears on the section. A way of life has gone; the casual holiday life style of recycled furniture and furnishings from home, walked in sand on the floor, beach cricket, board games and no computers.

Reo Moana in 2020. Photos: Lee Switzer

Barbeque on back lawn. Limmer family collection

One such relict is “Reo Moana” which translates as “language of the sea” situated in Marine Parade, once part of a street scape that included the Oceanside Hotel. The dwelling appears to be the last of the old Mount in the block. Taller buildings dominate the east end of Marine Parade and Reo Moana lost its rear view to Pilot Bay.

Family holiday. Limmer family collection

In April 1937 a Tauranga architect, Thomas S Gray, called for tenders for the erection of flats at Mount Maunganui for G H Streiff a dairy farmer of Te Aroha. [1] Streiff had bought 22 perches of land at Mount Maunganui from Tauranga County Council in 1935. [2] Gray designed a Spanish Mission style building of two flats, side by side, standing on the sand dune with the lower floor dug back into the dune and a second storey above. A parapet hides the flat roof and the stucco walls are painted white. There is a narrow balcony in front of each flat with steps at each end of a curved wall. The front door and windows of both flats are symmetrical and three bands of plain plaster on the stucco below the roof line are the only reference to the “speed lines” inspired by aerodynamic design and typical of the period.

Max Sing & Vic Limmer with Vic's kingfish. Limmer family collection

Originally the flats were mirror images of each other but changes to internal walls have left the east flat with four bedrooms while the west has only two but a larger living area. Terracotta coping tiles provide a contrast in material and colour in the centre section of the parapet.  Coping tiles originally protected the top of walls from rain water but in this case the effect is purely decorative. In more recent years a concrete front fence topped with terracotta pipes repeats this effect.

Streiff used the west flat for himself and his family and let the other to holiday makers. He was born in Milan, Italy the son of Abraham Streiff a Swiss who immigrated to New Zealand. [3] The son was appointed Swiss consul in Auckland. [4] His wife Florence was the sister of Lord Ernest Rutherford and she died in 1944. [5] Streiff continued to use his beach house and swam every day. At midday he took the ferry to have his dinner at one of the Tauranga hotels. The Limmer family from Hamilton rented the east flat for their holidays and eventually they purchased it. They changed the front window to ranch sliders then later to French doors. The flats were on a cross-lease title. The Sing and Barnes families were later owners of the west flat after Streiff’s death. The whole building is now owned by the Limmers and has provided many holidays for five generations of the family.

Reo Moana in 2020. Photos: Lee Switzer

References

Informant – Mrs. Beverley Limmer
[1]  Bay of Plenty Times, 3 April 1937
[2]  Bay of Plenty Times, 25 April 1935
[3]  My Heritage family tree.
[4]  Thames Standard, 7 July 1913
[5]  Birth, death & marriage indexes Dept of Internal Affairs.