Melbourne City Baths

Hours Open
10am - 5pm

Address
420-438 Swanston Street

Architects
1903-04 JJ and EJ Clark; 1980 Kevin Greenhatch & Associates in association with Gunn Williams Fender (renovations, alterations and additions)

Year Built
1903-04, 1981-83

Building Type
Community

What is Open
Main Pool Hall Deck

Tour Frequency
None

Tram Stop
Stop 7: Franklin Street and Swanston Street on routes 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 and 72

Description
Municipal baths were a common and necessary feature of daily life in early Melbourne when many houses had little provision for private bathing facilities. The present site was reserved for public baths in 1850 and a structure for bathing purposes was opened in 1860. The current building was completed in 1904 with two large swimming baths and associated changing facilities, as well as slipper baths, spray baths, Jewish Mikya baths and Turkish Baths.

The City Baths were very popular throughout the early 20th century, however by the 1940s the facility had fallen into disrepair. Degradation continued after the Olympic Games in 1956 as the construction of suburban pools reduced patronage at the City Baths. Despite attempts to close and demolish the building in the 1970s, the City Baths were retained and underwent restoration and alteration work from 1981-83, including the addition of spas, saunas, squash courts and a gymnasium.

Significance
Built in the early twentieth century, the Melbourne City Baths is one of the most distinctive Edwardian Baroque buildings in Melbourne and is recognised as an important work of the noted Victorian architect, JJ Clark. The City Baths are illustrative of the patterns of social organisation in the early twentieth century, with the segregation of males and females still evident in the entry signage. The City Baths building is distinctive in its use of red brick and contrasting cement render mouldings. The two-storey central entrance bay incorporates arched openings emphasised by banded voussoirs, a broken pedimented entry and cupola-roofed belvederes. Flanking single storey wings also incorporate cupolas at the corner bays.

What’s Open?
Visitors will have open access to the main pool hall deck.

Referenced from: Victorian Heritage Database, www.heritage.vic.gov.au