A Swim and Breakfast!

Most Australians love the water and learn to swim at an early age. It probably has something to do with our warm climate. Schools normally have a swimming program to teach children.

In Perth today you have many places to swim, the ocean, pools both public and private and in the Swan River.

It wasn't always that way, in the 1870's people pointed out one thing lacking in Perth was a public bathing facility. It was said that due to our climate and population it would be healthier to bathe regularly. 

The shallowness and muddiness of the River in front of town was seen as the reason to establish bathing facilities further away. Convenience ruled and to prevent the nude bathing and ‘larrikin’ behaviour that was taking place off the town jetties, at Mill Point and the foot of Mt Eliza, a tin bathing shed adjoining an enclosure was erected between the William and Barrack Street jetties in 1884.

The facility did little to solve the problems.

Calls continued for decent bathing facilities in a less muddy part of the River and in an area out of sight of those walking along the edge of the River. Nude bathing continued to take place around the spits in Melville and Perth Waters.
 
The Police Act 1892 (Western Australia) sought to deal with these problems. Section 104 prohibited bathing, except in proper costume, between 6am and 8pm in a public place.

Despite prosecutions, the problems continued.

It was argued that if the River was to remain the chief attraction of the city, a new bathing

facility was required and a Perth Bathing House Fund was established in 1885 with government support. The new Baths, eventually built at a cost of £2600 and then leased by the City Council, were opened on 5 March 1898, by Mayor of Perth, Alexander Forrest. The ornate baths building was designed by G R Johnson and built mostly of jarrah by C Nelson. 

In an attempt to avoid the muddy river bottom, the baths were built around 200 feet into the water, however, costs prevented a longer recommended distance from the shore and mud and low water levels remained a problem.

The foot of Mt Eliza had always been a popular swimming spot, but here the muddy river bottom was not the only problem. When, in 1911, the site was proposed as a possible area for a new baths building, opposition was intense. It was argued that visitors walking the terraces on Mt Eliza could look down on swimmers and those dressing. 

The Crawley Baths were opened on 7th February 1914. Known to be the largest enclosed body of water in the Southern Hemisphere, consisting of 106 dressing boxes, two pontoons, a number of spring diving boards and a moveable grand stand.  

The Crawley Baths were demolished in 1964, after the Beatty Park swimming complex was built to host the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately this was before heritage legislation could offer the Baths any protection.

A bronze statue named, "Eliza" was placed in the area on 15th October 2007 to remind us of the Crawley Baths. The statue, about 15 metres from the shoreline, is in a diving position on a wooden block. 

A long time passed between the baths being demolished and the statue placed, many people did not know why Eliza was placed there. Next time you pass "Eliza" think of the Crawley Baths and know some more history!

What better way after a swim in the morning than to try my Muesli?

My Muesli

Ingredients:

2 cups of rolled oats 
2 cups of milk 
2 apples, cored and diced with the peel 
2 tablespoons of honey 
2 cups of plain yogurt 
Half a cup of sultanas
Half a cup of sunflower seeds
Fresh berries or fruit like bananas or peaches

Instructions 

Combine the rolled oats and sultanas in a bowl and mix. 

Then, add the apple, milk, yoghurt, honey and mix well. Place into an air tight container and let sit overnight in the fridge. 

In the morning, add the sunflower seeds and top with fresh fruits. If mixture is too thick, add a little more milk.