7. Hampton Beach

Hampton Beach was a popular destination in the early days, especially after 1887 when the railway line was extended from Brighton Beach to Hampton (then called Retreat) and Sandringham. Crowds flocked to the beach and many patronised the hotel, tea gardens, cafes and other attractions such as the pier, which had been completed in 1882. The wide sandy beach was soon host to many bathing boxes and these had to be built on allocated sites and under strict specifications that governed not only the size of the building but also materials to be used in the construction. Originally the only colour allowed for the exterior was green, and inspectors ensured that all regulations required by the Shire of Moorabbin were adhered to.

When the Borough of Sandringham was formed in 1917, beach inspectors patrolled regularly to ensure that decorum was maintained. Beachgoers were expected to change into bathing costumes inside the bathing box and then move quickly to and from the water. Loitering on the sand was not tolerated and produced a stern warning to return to the bathing box until properly attired. In 1937 inspector White reported to Council that there were 1,136 bathing boxes and boatsheds along the foreshore of the City of Sandringham and 409 of these were on Hampton Beach. About 200 wooden boxes had been destroyed in the storms of 1934 and 1935 and Sandringham City Council devised a plan to construct a large concrete pavilion flanked by rows of indestructible concrete cubicles, which fortunately never eventuated.

Boiling water was a necessity to make tea during a beachside picnic and, as fires on the foreshore had been banned, this commodity was supplied by nearby cafes and tea rooms. Several local families were kept very busy on hot weekends and earned many pounds – hard work at one penny a billy!

After the Second World War the beach became even more popular and Hampton Railway Station had to be re-designed with larger entrances to cater for the crowds of visitors. The original Hampton Life Saving Club was kept very busy  administering to cuts, bruises, sunburn and sunstroke and carried out patrols and rescues. Storms, fires and neglect gradually reduced the number of bathing boxes and boat sheds and today they are only a memory. The once bare sandstone cliffs with their eroded gullies have also been graded and planted and the beach renourished and protected by groynes. Today it is difficult to imagine the huge crowds with their colourful umbrellas and deck chairs, watching happy children paddling across sand banks, as they enjoyed Swallows ice creams from the popular kiosk.