1833 - 1902

Sydney has not always been a swimmers’ paradise. Bathing during daylight hours was banned for most of the colonial period, driven by concerns for morality and public decency.

The prohibition began in 1833 when the Sydney Police Act came into effect to prevent swimming at Sydney Cove. The laws were echoed across NSW, banning public bathing between 7am to 8pm.

It was a widely believed myth that a Manly newspaper proprietor, William Gocher, led the way to ending the ban. In late 1902, Gocher told his readers he would defy the daylight bathing laws and challenge police to arrest him. He began his swim, but no response came from authorities. Gocher repeated the stunt and then attended Manly police station expecting arrest. Instead, he was met with disinterest.

By 1902, the law was already widely ignored and swimming began to emerge as an increasingly popular leisure activity. That year, with Sydney in the grip of a drought, Randwick Council allowed sea bathing, believing it would conserve water. A by-law was enacted, stating: ‘It shall be lawful for all persons, whether male or female, to bathe in the sea at all times and at all hours of the day.’ Other councils, including Waverley, quickly followed as public protests over limits to beach access continued.

Relaxation of the law had a significant impact on Bondi, which had been operating as a public beach since 1882. The arrival of the Bondi Tram in 1884 provided a final ingredient for the beach to become a major tourist attraction by the early 1900s.

Images courtesy the Waverley Library Local Studies Collection.