Access to toilet/change facilities Actively maintained Disabled Access

Men Women Children

Current Use: Ocean baths.
Condition: Good.

Late 1880s
A popular large, new bathing place incorporating the original small bathing pool at Blow Hole Point was made into men's baths by private citizens in anticipation of a flow of tourists from the South Coast railway. The pool was to be 68 feet by 45 feet and gradually deepen from three feet to eight feet.

By 1889, the new baths were complete, with the east wall of the swimming baths and a fence in place.

1892
Led by William Kelly of the Kiama Progress Association, townspeople  improved the Men's Baths for the season.

1893
Led by William Kelly, townspeople extended the Baths for the season and Kelly formed the Kiama Swimming Club.

1894
The original baths built by private citizens were handed over to Council. The 287 pounds required for construction of  new baths came from a  NSW government grant of 200 pounds, public subscriptions and 14 pounds, sixteen shillings and five pence from the Kiama Council. The new improved men's baths at Blow Hole Point were opened on New Year's Day 1894 by the State member for the District, G. W. Fuller. Mayor Hindmarsh and a crowd of 400 were present. The Balmain Swimming Club and the Eastern Suburbs Swimming Club competed in the swimming carnival hosted by the Kiama Swimming Club.

1898
To the surprise of some townspeople, many female spectators attended a swimming carnival at the Blow Hole Point Men's Baths.

1899
The New Year's Day carnival at the Men's Baths included a schoolboys race and  hundred yards inter-club handicap race with a prize of six pounds and six shillings.

1900
The Men's Baths were improved by removing rock.

1905
Kiama Council rescinded the law preventing bathing at the Men's Baths between 10am and 5pm.

1910
The Kiama swimming club held an Easter Monday swimming carnival at the Blow Hole Point Baths.

1923
Both the Blow Hole Point Baths and the Pheasant Point Baths were well patronised.

1928
Consideration was being given to using the Blow Hole Point Men's Baths for mixed bathing.

1929
The Blow Hole Point baths were equipped for continental bathing (men, women and children wearing approved swimming costumes using the baths at the same time).

1930
The Kiama Chamber of Commerce installed electric lights at the Baths.

1931
Kiama had its first night swimming carnival at the Continental Baths.

1980
The Kiama Ice Kubes winter swimming club began swimming at the Kiama rock pool.

1999
The Council holiday park at Blow Hole Point included the rock pool in its list of facilities to attract visitors.

Up to 1819
Aboriginal occupation of the Kiama area was largely undisturbed until NSW Surveyor-General John Oxley's 1819 report to Governor Macquarie regarding the fertile soil and dense forests in the Kiama region prompted European settlement

1820-1890s
Most of the Australian red cedar brought to Sydney in the 1820s was shipped from Kiama Harbour.
After the cedar was cut out, Kiama's economy relied on 'beauty, butter and basalt'. Tourism focused on the Blow Hole, baths and beaches complemented the district's quarrying and dairying activities.

Kelly, William

Kiama's best ocean baths until the creation of the Kiama Olympic Baths at Pheasant Point in the 1930s. Twinned with a women's ocean baths on the other side of the bay, these men's baths served to attract tourists to Kiama from the 1880s to the 1920s.

A natural pool converted to men's recreational baths, a segregated competition baths for swimming, diving and water polo and later into a continental baths, where some men-only bathing hours were re-imposed. An rare case of an ocean baths where men opposed the introduction of mixed bathing at their baths.

Strong tradition of community involvement in the management of the baths. Associated with generations of Kiama residents, visitors and businesses as well as swimming clubs, surf clubs and schools.

Assessed significance: Worthy of nomination for State Heritage Register, especially if considered in tandem with the ocean baths that have existed at Pheasant Point.
Current heritage status: Sited within a conservation precinct.

Related Topics Bathrooms, toilets & laundries Campers & caravanners Construction issues Continental bathing Council involvement Fundraising Government involvement Lighting & night swimming Police Sharks Swim clubs Swimming Swimming costumes Tourism Water polo Winter swimming Working bees & voluntary labour

Studies & References Kiama Harbour Conservation Management Plan, 1998.