Feel the cool splash of history. Right here, at the Melbourne City Baths. Opened in 1904, the Melbourne City Baths has been a hub for health and community. It stands proudly on Swanston Street.
The Melbourne City Baths replaced earlier baths from 1860. The original baths aimed to stop people bathing in the polluted Yarra River. Typhoid fever was a major problem then. People still swam in the river and even drank the water. The first baths fell into disrepair. They closed in 1899.
A design competition led to the new Melbourne City Baths. J.J. Clark and his son E.J. Clark won. Construction began in 1903. The Melbourne City Baths opened on March 23, 1904.
Imagine a time of strict separation. Men and women had separate pools and entrances at the Melbourne City Baths. The larger pool was for men. It measured 30 meters. There were even different classes of facilities. Second-class cubicles offered “slipper baths”. These allowed a more comfortable lounging position. “First class baths” were on the main floor. A mikvah and Turkish baths completed the picture.
Mixed bathing arrived in 1947. The Melbourne City Baths became a popular venue for swimming competitions. The baths faced decline and demolition threats in the 1970s. A Builders Labourers Federation green ban saved the building.
Extensive renovations took place from 1981 to 1983. Kevin Greenhatch, with Gunn Williams & Fender, led the design. The rear furnace and caretaker’s cottage were replaced. Squash courts and a gym were added. The pools were restored. Most changing booths were removed. Bath cubicles gave way to other facilities. A single entrance stair was created. The first-class ladies’ baths, including the mikvah bath, became the spa area. The mikveh bath was renovated in 2013.
Today, the Melbourne City Baths houses two swimming pools, a spa, a sauna, squash courts, and a gymnasium. The main pool has lanes for every swimmer. There is an aqua play lane. There is also a medium lane. A fast lane and a slow lane cater to all. The slow lane also serves for aquatic education.
The Melbourne City Baths is the largest swimming pool in Melbourne’s central business district.
The architecture is stunning. The Melbourne City Baths exemplifies Edwardian civic architecture. It combines red brick with cream-painted Edwardian Baroque elements. This creates a bold “blood and bandages” palette. The facade wraps around the corners of the site. Cupola-roofed belvederes enliven the roofline. Tall pedimented gables mark the pool roofs. Red-painted corrugated iron features on roof ridges and vents. The central entrance bay has arched openings. Banded voussoirs emphasize these. An open pediment sits on paired pilasters. Two-story wings flank either side.
The Melbourne City Baths stands as a testament to Melbourne’s history. It continues to serve the community. It is a place where health, fitness, and heritage meet.