The freedom and benefits of swimming are enjoyed by Australians of all ages. In the summer, millions of people flock to the beaches along the country's coast to swim.
It appears that the issue was one of public decency as there were no changing sheds and swimming costumes were rare. Those bathers who fancied a dip in the brine did their swimming after dark only.
This may well be the only photo of Bondi Beach with no beachgoers.
In October 1902 this law was openly defied by a male swimmer who entered the water at Manly Beach at midday. Clad in a neck-to-knee costume, William Gocher defied the law and announced his intentions in the newspaper to swim at midday. Twice ignored by the authorities, he duly criticized their lack of zeal; on a third occasion he was escorted from the water and interviewed by the police who brought no charges. Subsequently surf bathing' became a popular pastime.
One of Australians more interesting laws was prohibited swimming in the ocean during daylight hours, specifically between the hours of 6am and 8pm. William Henry Gocher was the proprietor of a local newspaper, who disagreed with the law enough to openly defy it. In his newspaper, the ‘Manly and North Sydney News’, he announced his intention to go bathing in the ocean during the daylight hours on this day in 1902. Gocher flouted the law three times before he was actually arrested. 12 months later on the 3rd of November the law was changed, but neck-to-knee swimwear for anyone over 8 years old was to be worn.
In November 1903 the reluctant Manly council resolved to allow all-day bathing, rapidly growing in popularity, provided that a neck-to-knee costume was worn. Gocher claimed a triumph and, as a result, friends presented him with a gold watch and a purse of fifty sovereigns.
By the 1920's there was standing room only at Manly Beach.
There was some controversy as to whether or not Gocher was the instigator to have the laws repealed. In early October 1902, prior to Gochers stunt, Randwick Council extended daylight bathing to all its beaches when it passed a by-law 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 ... within the municipality of Randwick."
The repealing of daylight swimming laws opened the ocean to surfing.
Anyway, regardless of who did what, more and more swimmers were entering the surf. As such, the dangers of the ocean became apparent, and in February 1906 the first surf lifesaving club in the world was founded at Bondi Beach. With more clubs forming at different beaches, the New South Wales Surf Bathing Association was founded on 18 October 1907 (later Surf Life Saving Australia).
Early Surf Life Saving Club
The first annual report of the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales to the first annual meeting of the association on Monday, 30th August 1909 shows the strength of the movement after its first real year.
The clubs represented at the first annual meeting were;
Bondi Surf Bathing Life Saving Club
Coogee Surf Life Brigade
Helensburgh Surf and Life Saving Club
Thirroul Surf Bathing First Aid Club
Manly Surf Club
Bronte Surf and Life Saving Club
Maroubra Life Saving Club
Royal Life Saving Society
Bondi Baths Life Saving Club
Bondi Surf and Social Club (now North Bondi SLSC)
North Steyne Bathing and Life Saving Club
Little Coogee Surf and Life Saving Association
Freshwater Surf Club
Redhead Surf Club
It was in 1920 that it was decided to change the name of the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales to Surf Life Saving Association of New South Wales. In 1922 it changed once more – to Surf Life Saving Association of Australia – with the introduction of clubs from Queensland. The headquarters remained in Sydney.
The rest is history!
http://twistedhistory.net.au/wordpress/2016/10/02/william-gocher-defies-the-australian-law-that-prohibits-daylight-bathing-in-the-ocean/
http://surflifesavingsydney.com.au/about-us/history/
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But it wasn't always this way. From 1838 until 1902 one of Australians more interesting laws was prohibited swimming in the ocean during daylight hours, specifically between the hours of 6am and 8pm.
It appears that the issue was one of public decency as there were no changing sheds and swimming costumes were rare. Those bathers who fancied a dip in the brine did their swimming after dark only.
This may well be the only photo of Bondi Beach with no beachgoers.
In October 1902 this law was openly defied by a male swimmer who entered the water at Manly Beach at midday. Clad in a neck-to-knee costume, William Gocher defied the law and announced his intentions in the newspaper to swim at midday. Twice ignored by the authorities, he duly criticized their lack of zeal; on a third occasion he was escorted from the water and interviewed by the police who brought no charges. Subsequently surf bathing' became a popular pastime.
One of Australians more interesting laws was prohibited swimming in the ocean during daylight hours, specifically between the hours of 6am and 8pm. William Henry Gocher was the proprietor of a local newspaper, who disagreed with the law enough to openly defy it. In his newspaper, the ‘Manly and North Sydney News’, he announced his intention to go bathing in the ocean during the daylight hours on this day in 1902. Gocher flouted the law three times before he was actually arrested. 12 months later on the 3rd of November the law was changed, but neck-to-knee swimwear for anyone over 8 years old was to be worn.
In November 1903 the reluctant Manly council resolved to allow all-day bathing, rapidly growing in popularity, provided that a neck-to-knee costume was worn. Gocher claimed a triumph and, as a result, friends presented him with a gold watch and a purse of fifty sovereigns.
By the 1920's there was standing room only at Manly Beach.
There was some controversy as to whether or not Gocher was the instigator to have the laws repealed. In early October 1902, prior to Gochers stunt, Randwick Council extended daylight bathing to all its beaches when it passed a by-law 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 ... within the municipality of Randwick."
The repealing of daylight swimming laws opened the ocean to surfing.
Anyway, regardless of who did what, more and more swimmers were entering the surf. As such, the dangers of the ocean became apparent, and in February 1906 the first surf lifesaving club in the world was founded at Bondi Beach. With more clubs forming at different beaches, the New South Wales Surf Bathing Association was founded on 18 October 1907 (later Surf Life Saving Australia).
Early Surf Life Saving Club
The first annual report of the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales to the first annual meeting of the association on Monday, 30th August 1909 shows the strength of the movement after its first real year.
The clubs represented at the first annual meeting were;
Bondi Surf Bathing Life Saving Club
Coogee Surf Life Brigade
Helensburgh Surf and Life Saving Club
Thirroul Surf Bathing First Aid Club
Manly Surf Club
Bronte Surf and Life Saving Club
Maroubra Life Saving Club
Royal Life Saving Society
Bondi Baths Life Saving Club
Bondi Surf and Social Club (now North Bondi SLSC)
North Steyne Bathing and Life Saving Club
Little Coogee Surf and Life Saving Association
Freshwater Surf Club
Redhead Surf Club
It was in 1920 that it was decided to change the name of the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales to Surf Life Saving Association of New South Wales. In 1922 it changed once more – to Surf Life Saving Association of Australia – with the introduction of clubs from Queensland. The headquarters remained in Sydney.
The rest is history!
Sources:
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/australias-modern-swimmers
https://www.quora.com/Why-was-it-illegal-to-swim-in-Australia-at-the-beaches-during-the-day
http://twistedhistory.net.au/wordpress/2016/10/02/william-gocher-defies-the-australian-law-that-prohibits-daylight-bathing-in-the-ocean/
http://surflifesavingsydney.com.au/about-us/history/
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