Access to toilet/change facilities Actively maintained Disabled Access

Men Women Children

Current Use: Ocean baths.
Condition: Still usable, facilities nearby.

1902
A serious outbreak of typhoid in Newcastle led to recommendations for an efficient sewerage system for the whole of the City of Newcastle. A scheme to discharge the district's raw sewage into the Gulf at Merewether was implemented despite protests from Merewether Council and residents that 'everything thrown out to sea comes back on the beach' and suggestions that the sewage should be treated in a septic tank before being discharged on the beach. The NSW Minister for Works argued that 'if a nuisance arose, the Government would have to abate it'. The NSW Public Works Department then promised to make 600 pounds available from the government to Merewether Council 'for the making of a bath' as soon as it could be proved there would be no pollution.

1907
On October 20, a meeting at Merewether Council Chambers petitioned the NSW government for a safe bathing place, change sheds and lifesaving appliances on Merewether Beach. Merewether's Mayor, Ald. Dunn, wanted the 'Minister to recognise that the people were in earnest in their endeavour to have Merewether Beach as nature intended it, a safe bathing place'. A public meeting on 16 December triggered the formation of men's and women's swimming clubs.

1908
The men's swimming club organised a 1908 surf carnival with 'proceedings in aid of erecting Ladies and Gentlemen's baths'. Despite the excitement of a shark attack and the rescue of three swimmers, a display by the rocket brigade, the presence of the Cooks Hill Public School band and a regimental band, a fancy dress competition, a three-legged race, a tug of war (where the Brewers defeated the Harbours and Rivers team), a 'cigar and button race', a 'single ladies' race and an exhibition of water-polo, 'lack of method' caused many spectators to leave the carnival.

1924
A working bee cleared rocks from the Ladies Pool and Merewether Council was 'asked to co-operate' on a pound-for-pound basis.

1926
Merewether Council was informed that 600 pounds had been placed on the NSW government's estimates to fulfil the promise made regarding the construction of baths. Beach pollution was still a problem at Merewether, as the population of Newcastle had trebled between 1900 and 1926, overloading the sewage system.

1927
The Merewether surf club (which had developed from the Merewether men's swimming club) appointed three members to approach the NSW Public Works Department and argue against the Council's proposed baths site (thought to be where the new baths are located). Though not consulted, nor asked to participate in choosing the site, the surf club declared the only 'feasible, practical' site was 'the spot known as the Ladies Bathing Pool'.

1928
Baths near Merewether's promenade and located adjacent to 'The Ladies'  were completed by January. The total cost of the baths to Merewether Council was met by the 600 pounds provided by the ,NSW government. Considered 'a blessing to many of the younger generation as well as to adults', these concrete baths were 20 yards wide and had a depth ranging from 18 to 72 inches. The Merewether Surf club held the first swimming races at the baths in December.

Merewether's aldermen remained concerned at the amount of sewage that washed into the baths but admitted that 'what was more natural than that refuse floating on the top of the waves should be thrown over into the baths'. Convinced that the pollution problem would exist as long as the sewer outfall was at the Gulf, Council decided not to expend any more money in trying to limit the pollution of the baths by constructing a higher sea wall.

1929
A beach cleaner was employed full-time to clean sewage pollution from the Gulf outlet. Every Tuesday night, the Merewether pool was lit for night-time surf club races  that attracted crowds of up to 300 people.

Early 1930s
During the Depression, relief workers cleaned out the baths and the Merewether surf club continued to hold swimming races at the baths.

'Despite the depression in the district', the Merewether Ladies Amateur Swimming Club's clubhouse was opened in mid-March 1931 by  Merewether's Mayor Alderman Rowland. The Ladies Club contributed half the shed's total cost of 202 pounds. A 'popular girl' competition had raised over 70 pounds, while other fundraising efforts included dances and a fancy-dress concert. Lots of local girls joined and there was always a good attendance at the club race nights. The clubhouse was equipped with a piano, chairs and tables and provided bridge and mah-jong lessons. Even before the clubhouse was built, the Club Captain had taught 'dancing exercises' on the promenade.

The ladies swimming club worked closely with the Merewether surf club, forming joint committees to arrange socials, concerts and dances. At a time when women were not admitted to full membership of mainstream surf lifesaving movement, the ladies club also formed a non-competitive 'march past' team, that competed at surf carnivals in the blue and gold colours of the first 30th Battalion formed in 1915, when men from Merewether enlisted for service in World War I.

1936
Once the huge new Merewether Ocean Baths opened, the older pool seemed a rather cramped swimming environment.

1972
The Merewether Mackerels winter swimming club formed and asked the Town Clerk for permission to use the old baths 'until such time as the use of the Merewether Ocean Baths could be granted'. Newcastle Council agreed to clean out the old pool and indicated that the main baths would remain open for the 1973 season. The Merewether Mackerels ended their first season with around 65 members, many from local surf clubs. Sunday morning swims usually finished back at the surf club for hot soup and 'a drop of sustenance' .

Merewether was once part of the Burwood estate belonging to James Mitchell, who commenced coal-mining there in the 1840s.

From the 1870s to 1907
Men bathed nude in 'The Gulf' at Merewether, often diving into the Gulf at its sea end and allowing the waves to carry them to the shore end. Ladies and children had a safer bathing spot, known as 'the Ladies'.

Picnickers negotiating the Gulf en route to the Glenrock Lagoon either turned a blind eye or made embarrassed retreats when confronted by the nude male bathers. Even so, many ladies considered this route less risky than walking the old mining tunnels.

1907
The practice of shark fishing at the mouth of The Gulf using meat and bones as bait 'to attract the monsters' may have contributed to a non-fatal shark attack at Merewether Beach. Bathing in The Gulf ended in 1907, when it became the outfall for the first sewerage scheme (now a stormwater outlet).

1908
The first house in Merewether was connected to the new sewage scheme. The crude waste being discharged at Merewether was 'a distinct annoyance' to everyone living within a reasonable distance of the beach outfall, almost unbearable until the subsequent installation of 'better ventilating appliances'.

1913
The NSW Public Works Department investigated complaints about odour and pollution from the sewer outfall at Merewether.

1928
Work began on a sewage amplification scheme for Newcastle which would overcome the pollution problems at Merewether.

1935
The amplification scheme for Newcastle sewage intended to treat all sewage, screen out solids and discharge only 'the liquefied portion' into the ocean and so eliminate pollution at Merewether Beach came into operation.
 

To be added.

The old Merewether Baths are significant for its environmental history. NSW government funds provided to Merewether Council in compensation for accepting the pollution of Merewether Beach with a sewage outfall paid for the construction of these baths.

Local demand for swimming facilities was so strong that these baths became a popular sporting and recreational venue even when they were contaminated by sewage. After the sewage pollution was reduced, these baths were superseded by newer, larger ocean baths.

Assessed significance: Local on its own, but could be of State Heritage significance if considered in tandem with the Merewether Ocean Baths, with which it shares the rock platform.
Current heritage status: To be advised.
 

Related Topics Council involvement Fishing & fishtraps Government involvement Sharks Surf clubs Swim clubs Waste management Water quality

Studies & References To be added.