World War II from 1939 to 1945

Initially the impact of World War II on the ocean baths was similar to that of World War I. Men disappeared from surf and swimming clubs to enlist in the defence forces and were sent overseas, women joined up as nurses and beach holidays continued.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941 and the fall of Singapore in 1942, there were real fears of a Japanese invasion of Australia.

All of Australia was placed on a war footing. Barbed wire and tank traps appeared on beaches. There was talk of evacuating coastal areas and a 'scorched earth' policy was adopted. In New South Wales, Port Kembla was fortified, air bases were set up at Evans Head and Nowra and radar stations were set up on Sydney's Collaroy Plateau and at Kiama. Throughout Australia, air raid shelters were constructed in schools and air raid drills practised. Clothing and food were rationed. Coastal tourism declined due to petrol rationing, restrictions on travel and people's other wartime commitments. Christmas holidays were cancelled in 1942.

Unlike the northern Australian coast, the NSW coast was not bombed from the air. While Japanese submarines did shell Sydney and Newcastle, those attacks caused no loss of life. The two Japanese midget submarines that entered Sydney Harbour did cause loss of life.

Other Japanese submarines harassed coastal shipping, sinking and damaging many ships. Sightings of Japanese submarines were reported along the NSW coast from Crowdy Head down to Eden. The NSW beaches seemed less safe and appealing places than ever before.

Fears of invasion declined after General Macarthur and US forces reached  Australia and after the Battle of the Coral Sea.

The Australian government then began to focus on post-war reconstruction. The new National Fitness Program instituted in 1939 grew throughout the war years and formed part of the vision for the post-war years.

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