Bathing in the Victorian Era - Tauranga

The Redoubt, Tauranga
Real photo postcard by Henry Winkelmann, Tourist Series 932
Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0761/10

Daybreak in Colonel Ward’s house and the sound of his bugle floated over the surrounding streets. Was it a call to arms! No, he was issuing a summons to his friends to join him in an early morning dip in the harbour (or so the story goes). Only his male friends though, as in the late 1890s it wasn’t deemed acceptable for men and women to be seen bathing together. By 1881 there were complaints (maybe from the ladies) about the unfairness of gentlemen being able to enjoy themselves splashing about in the water but not so the ladies. Maybe, they pondered, bathing boxes could be considered.

In October 1881 the editor of the Bay of Plenty Times commented, “that with the bathing season approaching some people were already turning up each morning on the beach below Captain Tunks’ house or round by the Redoubt.” It was definitely time to look at building a properly kept bath house handy to town where people could enjoy the healthy benefits of sea water without worrying about stingrays and sharks. By 1883 a bathing wharf had been built by public subscription, on the beach near the Redoubt. To keep the gentlemen safe from nosy sharks it was decided that an enclosure should be added. Alas, owing to the lack of privacy there were still no ladies allowed.

Heggarty's Bathing Pavilion, c. late 1880s
Detail from large format print “Tauranga from the Redoubt”, unidentifed photographer
Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0607/08

In January 1885 Mr. Haggerty, who had a small boatyard at the Redoubt end of the Strand, unveiled his bathing pavilion, a square platform with a small circular tent at each corner of the platform. It was constructed to float in and out with the tide and was attached to a mooring in deep water. There was also a running rope passing through a ring bolt and round a windlass on the beach. At last privacy for the ladies!

In 1885 the Tauranga Improvement Company called for tenders for the building of a bathing enclosure at Tunks Point, at the eastern end of 1^st Avenue. Until the baths were completed people continued to offend Victorian sensibilities by bathing at public beaches during daylight hours. Finally in December 1885 the baths were opened by the mayor Mr. R. C. Jordan. Gentlemen were allowed during the hours of 6am – 9am, 12noon – 2pm and 5pm – 7pm when a blue flag was flying. The ladies’ hours were 9am – 12 noon and 2pm – 5pm when a red flag was flying, later changed to white.

Tauranga Public Salt-water Baths. Rules and Regulations
The Bay of Plenty Times, 23 March 1910, Courtesy of PapersPast

The new baths consisted of the pavilion containing eight comfortable changing rooms with a large enclosure in front of them. This had been built so that even at low tide some sort of bathing was possible. Races were held on opening day but once again nothing for the ladies. On 18 March 1886 the Bay of Plenty Times reported that a red and blue flag were flying at the same time at the Bathing Pavilion. A mistake or someone having a bit of fun, I wonder?

By October 1886 a ladder had been erected against the enclosure’s wall so that on a low tide bathers could enjoy a swim on the outside. One gentleman wrote to the paper to let it be known how horrified he was to see men that he’d known and respected for years making a spectacle of themselves by going up and down the ladder. On Dec 23 1889 the caretaker at the Bathing Pavilion saw two sharks, 12 and 6 feet long, playing about in the shallow water close to the enclosure. Maybe the ladder wasn’t such a good idea.

Baths and Railway Bridge, Tauranga, c1940s-1950s
Real photo postcard by National Publicity Studios, 4968
Courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 99-1291

Unfortunately the baths turned out to be a financial loss for the Tauranga Improvement Company and in 1892 the Borough Council took them over for the sum of 100 pounds. The Council struggled with their upkeep and by 1919 the baths were in a poor state. By 1930 only the dressing sheds and one lonely post in the harbour remained. With the advent of new baths being opened at Memorial Park and Greerton the old 1^st Avenue ones were finally demolished in 1958.

References

Tauranga 1882 – 1982, A.C. Bellamy (ed.)
Papers Past Bay of Plenty Times 18 Mar 1886 and Oct 1886

Seaward’s Hand-coloured Postcards of Tauranga

Commentary for these images has been kindly provided by Julie and John Green.

In the sixties Tauranga’s Strand Gardens were the showpiece of the Council’s Parks and Reserves Department, who had two dedicated gardeners with a base opposite Guinness Bros. store (No 1 The Strand, now the SunLive offices), just below the Redoubt. The gardens were always immaculate and colourful, and popular with those who walked through it to enjoy the floral displays renewed with each season.

Strand Gardens, Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, private collection

The bricks of the wishing well were multicoloured, as shown, although somewhat muted. It contained water, but was covered with safety mesh. The railway is behind the flower beds at left, with a taxi stand beyond and adjacent to it.

Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of the Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0283/09

The Strand railway station is just visible beyond and to the right of the conifer. It was only open when the railcar came through on the way to Taneatua. The building at far right is probably the Masonic Hotel (now Masonic Park) and the present day palms are very small and new in this view.

Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-072

Taken from the southern slope of the lower Monmouth Redoubt, the site of Tauranga Moana’s waka, Te Awanui, since the early seventies. The Strand Motel is just visible behind the left of the two buses, at far right.

Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-789

An unusual view of the ever present floral ship, probably taken from the vicinity of the Strand railway station, with No 1 The Strand and the Monmouth Redoubt in the background. The house behind the palm is now occupied by Prime Rentals.

Centennial Swimming Baths, Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-115

I have lovely memories of swimming, skating and playing at Memorial Park. The moat and castle were additions during my childhood. The boats could be hired and were fun but one got blisters on the handles of the paddles and water came inside and wet the seats and our clothes. The Castle was actually on an island in the centre of the rather angular concrete lake. The coloured fountain beside the high tide mark was pretty special at night.

The swimming baths, now known as the Memorial Pools, a skating rink, the Jaycees bumper boat marina with bridge, and the old-fashioned playground complete with tall rocket-slide. Eventually a loco, tractor and Harvard aeroplane were added for all the small – and bigger – boys.

Memorial Park, Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-117

A closer view of the Jaycees project, complete with castle and moat. The model engineers’ miniature train line currently occupies this area.