Melbourne is bursting with character and offers countless activities, especially for anyone who loves offbeat sights and culture. You can easily spend several days exploring its fascinating neighborhoods. Brighton, for example, is a prosperous suburb about 11 km from the central business district. We headed to Brighton Beach specifically to see the beach bathing boxes. Arriving late in the afternoon, we were surprised at how quiet it was, practically feeling like a ghost town—quite unexpected since we assumed there would be crowds. I even imagined vendors selling goods out of those brightly colored, house-like boxes, but that was definitely not the case. Apparently, it does get very busy earlier in the day.
This side of the beach seemed more suited to sightseeing than lounging, almost like an art installation perfect for postcard-worthy photos. From what I’ve learned, these bathing boxes date back to around 1862, when daytime bathing in public was tightly restricted, and the beach was split up for men and women.
These types of bathing boxes traditionally provided shelter from the wind and served as changing areas for swimwear. You’ll find similar beach boxes or huts in places like France, England, Italy, and South Africa, where they have also been used as vacation spots.
I’d love to hear any experiences you might have with bathing boxes around the globe!
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