History of the Empire Bay Public Baths

In the early days, Empire Bay was the place to come for a summer holiday. The Gosford Times in the 1920’s regularly reported the busy summer intake of holiday makers. The school enrolment lifted and the holiday cottages filled. It is not surprising that one of the first items on the agenda of the recently formed Progress Assn (1923), was the building of public baths.

May 1924, Erina Council approved the application by the Progress Assn to build a 66’x66’ public baths along the waterfront.

The files record the Palmer family making the “kind offer to place at the disposal of the Association the site for the proposed baths which will front their properties and is doubtless a perfect site for such”. The site being the waterfront area adjacent to today’s children’s playground.

Fundraising commenced and working bees were organised and the “The ladies supplied the necessary refreshments for the workers during the day”. The baths were built from timber piles, and timber stakes providing the shark proofing barrier. A timber plank along the top provided a narrow walking platform around the bath’s perimeter.

Initially, the Progress Association decided to keep the “baths in their own hands and appointed the following three members as offices in charge, Mr Settree, Mr Davies and Mr Walker. A sign was erected at the baths, notifying the public that the Association accepts no responsibility for any accident that may occur at the baths.”

Official Opening: The Gosford Times reports “Monday 26th of January was a red-letter day in the history of this Empire Bay it being the opening day of the public baths owned and managed by the Local Progress Association and practically all built by voluntary labour to the value of £150 being free of debt. Mr Myler, President, introduced Counsellor Humphrey, who in a short speech declared the baths open. The day was spent with foot racing, pillow fights over the baths, cricket, underwater swimming, and ladies nail driving. The Orphanage Band played, the ladies served refreshments, tea, soft drinks, ice cream and fruit from under a large marquee. The baths were gaily decorated with bunting, and Empire Bay is justly proud of its first venture in the form of a sports gathering. The day concluded with the band playing "Advance Australia Fair "and "God Save the King ".

For the next 30 years, The Gosford Times frequently reported the popularity of the baths.  “the baths are a very popular resort during the hot weather, especially at the weekends. The Progress Association placed a rope across the local baths between shallow and deep water for the safety of bathers, especially non-swimmers”. “Eight-hour day was a busy day on the waterfront, every available cottage been taken out the, the baths were well patronised, and fishing and boating were the orders of the day”.

The baths were frequently used by the Empire Bay Public School for swimming lessons and sporting events.

Inevitably, the ongoing maintenance was too much for the Progress Association, and the Council took over the ownership and responsibility during the 1930’s for the annual seabed cleaning and structure repairs.

Sadly, by the early 1980’s the baths were in poor condition, and Council decided to remove the Empire Bay baths, along with several others in the Council’s area. By the late 1980’2, the baths, and the adjoining toilet block had been removed.

So, as you are sitting on the seats near the swings and the slippery dip watching your children enjoy the playground, look out over the water and visualise the early Empire Bay families laughing and splashing about in the Empire Bay baths built by our early pioneers who wanted their children to grow up and enjoy the hot summer days at Empire Bay.

By Robert Thompson

 Source: Gosford Times, via Trove. Photographs courtesy Gosford Library, discussions with locals M Pacey, C Argaet, B Simpson, J Thorrington and A Ferguson.