Nedlands Baths & Jetty (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The former Nedlands Baths and Jetty has aesthetic, historic, social and rarity cultural heritage significance. The baths were one of several built along the Swan River including Claremont, Crawley and Fremantle. Nedlands baths, however, is the only surviving example and is a unique reminder of an almost forgotten way of life. For many Nedlands citizens who have fond memories of learning to swim at the baths it is a sentimental link with the Edwardian era. The baths and jetty are associated with a prominent architect/engineer, Mr J W Wright, who was involved in designing other well known places such as Ascot Grandstand and the York Town Hall. The Pederson family also had strong connections with the baths as they ran them for over two decades. The jetty is a fine example of a wooden jetty built just after the turn of the century for vital river transport. It continues to have an important social function as a public jetty.

Physical Description

The structures were built as part of a resort complex planned to be serviced by a tramway extending from Subiaco. and which included the Nedlands Park Hotel and the jetty, compleled in 1908. The jetty comprised a row of jarrah piles extending from the river wall along the southern edge of the reclaimed foreshore. The jetty traverses a shallow shoal area of the river out to navigable depths where a jetty capable of receiving pleasure ferries was built. It also has a lower staging for dinghies, a post for life ring and a bench. In 1909 the baths were added to the west side of the jetty and were accessed from the outer end of the jetty. The superstructure was set on jarrah piling and bearers, and included timber framed jarrah weatherboard clad buildings and a jarrah baltened enclosure of the bathing area. Boardwalk decking steps and diving structures were arrayed around the perimcler of the baths to the east. south and west with the adjoining buildings along the northern perimeter. Accommodation included caretakers quarters, change rooms, toilets, turnstiles and cashier and shop. The east end of the building was octagonal in plan, with openings in the remainder. The building was roofed with iron. Maintenance and other problems caused the closure of the baths. In the middle 1980s the firm Universal Constructions was commissioned to convert the building into a marina/restaurant complex. Most of the fabric of the baths forming the superstructure was removed, including the cladding. The building was extended westwards, and new facilities including kitchen and toilets were added. New boat pens were constructed to the south and new piles and headers were driven. The existing building is now clad with fibre-reinforced cement planks and flooring on timber framing, and roofed with zincalume. The Cafe on the east side which occupies the old kiosk was converted in 1995. Internally the Cafe is lined with the old cladding from the kiosk to dado height. The old wall louvered ventilation is also still visible. The character of the present structure recalls the former building, but the northern elevation is far more 'broken-up' than the original simple forms.

History

The Nedlands Swimming Baths and Jetty were built as part of the development of facilities for the Nedlands Tramway Estate. Architects, Wright. Powell and Cameron designed the baths and the jetty. The jetty was constmcted in 1908 from material brought in by barge. The jetty was a vital link in the development of Broadway and the tramway. The swimming baths were built with a fully enclosed shark proof area at a cost of £1.500 and opened on 9 Febmary 1909 by Sir John Forrest, the first Premier of Western Australia. Together wilh the hotel and jetty. the baths attracted many people to the Nedlands foreshore. Interestingly (from a 1990s point of view) the Nedi ands Batlis used to have separate swimming areas for men and women. This reflected the mores of the Edwardian era when segregated bathing in neck to knee costumes was the norm. According to Williams in 'Nedlands: Campsite to City' in 1921, 300,000 visitors were estimated to have visiled the foreshore. Many thousands of children learnt to swim at the Baths, particularly nnder the instruction of the Pederson family. In 1952 the Pederson's School of Swimming was formed. This continued until the balhs were closed in 1975· 76. Since the Pedersons fought for the redevelopment of the Baths into a marina and restaurant. the property has been through the hands of a number of lessees. First Jamie Loh, then Warren Mead and Ian Love who called the restaurant JoJo's. For a while the Victoria Company owned the restaurant until 199.f when ii was taken over by Margaret and George King. The jetty has been well used over the years. Ferries and boats use the jelly for landing and picking up people and the Nedlands Yacht Club used to fly their race starting flags from the end of the jetty. Today people are attracted to the former Nedlands Balhs as a restaurant and cafe are still operating from these unique premises. Tourists enjoy the sight of visiting wildlife such as dolphins and seals that feed near tlte jetty. It is thought that the Nedlands Baths are the only surviving remnant of swimming baths of this type, left in Australia.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update