3. Bathing boxes, Dendy Street Beach

These bathing boxes on Dendy Street beach are a Bayside and a Melbourne icon. The first bathing box on the Brighton foreshore was reported to have been built in 1862 and by the turn of the century many more were built as their popularity increased when sea bathing was promoted as a health benefit. Originally boxes were built close to the water’s edge, as decency required almost direct entry into the water, to avoid bathers being seen in swimming costumes, even though these were all encompassing.

Whilst Brighton boxes numbered more than 200 in 1930, some had been lost due to neglect and storm damage and many isolated boxes were relocated to Dendy Street beach. When beach reconstruction was carried out by Brighton Council at Wellington Street beach and the stone walls were built, boxes there were also relocated. After many boxes were wrecked in the violent storm of 1934, those remaining were re-aligned in their present position, well above the high water mark. Most boxes were painted green, grey or other dull colours, but after the Second World War many licencees decided to individualise their boxes with bright colours and designs.

During the 1970s the Victorian State Government decided that as many private structures as possible should be  removed from the foreshore and an attempt was made to have all the boxes demolished and cleared away. Brighton Council, the Bathing Box Association, Brighton Historical Society and residents combined to oppose this threat to Brighton’s heritage and were eventually so successful that the boxes are now protected by a Planning Scheme Heritage Overlay.

The 82 boxes remaining are a favourite subject of photographers and artists, especially when viewed from Green Point with the Melbourne skyline in the background – a vista that has appeared in many tourist publications.

Most licencees belong to the Brighton Bathing Box Association Inc. which was formed more then 50 years ago, and can be contacted at P.O Box 230 Brighton 3186.