Brighton Bathing Boxes

One of Melbourne's icons - The Brighton Bathing Boxes.
A colourful reminder of our past. In a time long before the advent of the mini skirt, or shock horror - shorts, bathing was a daring business,
with "Neck-To-Knees" being the height of fashion.

Brighton was Melbournian's favourite seaside destination and where the well-heeled liked to promenade. Brighton’s foreshore is home to 82 pieces of local heritage and culture. Take the train to Brighton Beach or follow The Esplanade to Green Point car park. Step on to Dendy Beach and experience an era where bathing modesty was preserved behind the weatherboard walls of a European-style bathing box.

The local council plans to build six new bathing boxes in Brighton and auction them to ratepayers. The council owns the land for each box and charges an annual licence fee of $500. Only Bayside ratepayers are allowed to have one, which sell for between $150,000 and $200,000 each with council approval. Nice - eh?

These bathing boxes are photographic favourites with both locals and tourists, and form the backdrop to many family portraits and wedding memories. They're quietly famous too, you know, having featured in an episode of Kath and Kim, made appearances in Getaway and been aired overseas during the Australian Tennis Open and the Formula One Grand Prix.

So, what are you waiting for - pack a picnic and pop down to Brighton on your next weekend and stroll along the beach.