Merewether Baths
I often get questions about the pump house and the diving blocks at Merewether Beach so I found out a bit of info…..
1935
At a cost of 2,600 pounds, Merewether Ocean Baths, acclaimed as the ‘largest of their kind in the State’ opened as part of the Merewether Golden Jubilee celebrations in November. There was a procession in fancy dress from the Council chambers to the baths.
Considered ‘the greatest advertisement for Merewether as a residential suburb’, the new baths had been built further seaward and a little to the south of the older Merewether baths on the same rock platform. At 110 yards by 90 yards, they were ‘big enough to hold the larger swimming events’ and separated into a main pool and a children’s pool by a wide promenade. The main pool nearest the sea was 110 yards long and 55 yards wide, while the shore portion was 110 yards long and 35 yards wide. The 3,500 pounds for relief work on the baths had been paid by the NSW government. Excavation of the baths promised to yield 6,000 to 7,000 cubic yards of stone valued at 2,500 pounds. Merewether Council was seeking a further government loan to cover the construction of dressing-sheds at the baths.
The new baths became central to the life of the community and prompted more people from the Lower Hunter district to visit Merewether.
Camera: FujiFilm FinePix S7000
Location: Merewether, NSW, 2291, Australia
(Latitude South 32d 57m 07s, Longitude East 151d 45m 23s)
Date: 24-02-2008 @ 7:46PM
ISO200
f/8
Focal Length: 8mm
Exposure: 2.5sec
Filter: Circ polarizing & ND4
Tripod
Merewether Baths belongs to the following groups:
Australian Landmarks and Icons and Green! Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Deborah Parkin
fascinating image Naomi – love the composition and the darkness of the water – feels so abandoned.
Paul Tupman
I LOVE this! Wow, you have captured such an amazing atmosphere from something so simple! The shape of the building is wonderful, I love those curves and its great how that is echoed in the railings… Brilliant composition and processing in this and the tones suit the image so well… easily an instant favourite!
Naomi Frost replied
Ahh shucks, thanks so much Paul for that fabulous comment. I was really pleased with the way this one turned out.
Paul Tupman
oh, and thanks so much for the history behind these baths.. an interesting read…
margo
Thanks for the history Naomi. Your series on the Merewether Baths, taken at various times of the day, has been top class.
Naomi Frost replied
Thanks, margo. It’s such a fabulous place to photograph – I was happy to see the tide was down tonight so I could go out onto the break wall to get a shot from this angle.
Hans Kawitzki
good subject matter and thanks for the history write up,I’m amazed that there is hardly any noise in the picture
ladiluck
wow great captue…and nice to have a read up on some of these old buildings around the place..thanks
Andy Harris
unusual and very interesting place – lovely shot!
wellman
stunning image – the pool is definitely more inviting to shoot than to splash in!
Paul Vanzella
seriously wonderful shot – love the mood you’ve managed to capture and the deep black abyss that is the water!
Halcyon007
It’s descriptions and narrative like that that make an interesting shot that bit even more interesting.
That sky is delightful, those wisps of clouds look electrically charged, waiting to have a storm in the clouds without sharing it with the world. This sets an ominous and sombre mood below and the features of the pool stand proud against the elements.
That green tinge to it, adds a slight eiree feel and it feels quite creepy for a swimming bath (I wouldn’t be tempted to have a swim now!) The textures in the concrete have come out really well and the shine on the posts is also fantastic
studiomunch
lovely image, cool work
Maureen Bloesch
great shot!
epoca
Fantastic shot Naomi,so dark and eerie its beautiful.Great eye…
Anette Tyler
Great capture. Lovely light
Simon Mears
fabulous work.. thanks for the narrative.. but ths photograph is seriously wonderful
Paul Gibbons
Great work, it looks almost monocolour. Well done.
Darren Burdell
Sensational work!!!
Allison Lane
Great shot! Love the solitude…
Jessica Tremp
love this Naomi
tjmimagery
Great shot.
chriso
Great shot Naomi. Thanks for the history lesson.
Dave Hiskey
love the stillness…great pic
Dave Hiskey
love the stillness…great pic
Dave Hiskey
sorry pressed the button twice…
atomicracingred
Being a Novocastrian, its good to see some shots of home here. I now live in Melbourne and photos like this always bring a smile to my face.
ltruskett
Stunning. Love the colour, mood and subject.
Louise LeGresley
Wonderful… almost surreal… :)
circusgallery
brillant and haunting
intheflesh
Very retro, great shot
paulevelin
almost unreal
absolutely love it
kookookajoo
evocative image…thanks for the background info too
PPPhotoArt
fantastic shot with amazing tones, love your commentary to go along with … top work!!!!
housenbaby
stunning .. and bonus commentary – you spoil us.
RedBubble front page – nice work :)
Sue Wotton
Congrats on the front page, Naomi, great stuff :)
Michael Cuneo
When you mention the pump house, reminds me of the Pump house over at Stockton… also a good subject. Shame it’s all fenced up though, hard to get anything decent with all the fencing around.