Heritage et AL

One of the first fenced swimming baths in Auckland was around an area of shoreline at Smales Point. In the 1860s men paid a small fee to swim there – naked, as was customary at the time. Women were not allowed to use the Smales Point pool but were able to swim for a few hours a day at the Britomart Baths, during which time men were excluded. Ref: James D Richardson, Auckland harbour, 1864, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-526.

This Sunday Auckland Libraries will be down at Viaduct Harbour for A day at the beach . Ref: Stapley Farmer, Apprentices picnic, 1960s?, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 1056-32. To celebrate over 100 years of New Zealand’s beach fashion and the exhibition 'At the Beach' , the Maritime Museum will be bringing the beach to the city centre for Labour weekend. The exhibition will be on display across the Maritime Museum, and has been devised and produced in conjunction with the New Zealand Fashion Museum . Ref: Group in car at Takapuna Beach, c1960s, North Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, T6843.

Have you been enjoying the beaches this summer? Relaxing, paddling, swimming, fishing and having picnics on the beach are all part of a great Kiwi summer. Enjoy these heritage images from Auckland Libraries as you kick back and plan your next trip to the beach. Having fun at the beach: Ref: T0213, passengers from the SS Condor alighting at Takapuna Wharf, Takapuna, c. 1910, North Auckland Research Centre Ref: 4-618, looking east along Okahu Bay, 1901, Sir George Grey Special Collections Ref: 35-R349, having fun on the beach at Sumner, Christchurch, c. 1916, Sir George Grey Special Collections Ref: T0502, Milford Beach looking south east towards Rangitoto Island, 1922, North Auckland Research Centre

Public baths were constructed in Auckland during the 1880s and this led to a growing interest by adults in swimming. Baths such as Point Erin in Herne Bay, the Tepid Baths in town and Parnell Baths used salt water and this in turn led to sea swimming becoming a popular activity. Ref: NZ Map 4675, Plans and sections for the Parnell Baths, 1913, Sir George Grey Special Collections Parnell Baths were Auckland's first salt water baths. Constructed at Judge's Bay in 1914 by the council, the baths have become an iconic and well loved location for swimmers of all ages. At 60m it is the largest salt water pool in New Zealand (although the salt now comes from a bag & not the sea) and tops Newmarket's Olympic pool by 10m. That is a very long length to swim! Ref: 4-8628, stereoscopic view of the Parnell Baths, no date, Sir George Grey Special Collections The baths opened during the summer season of 1914-1915. Since the pool is unheated, the baths are closed for part...