April 2026

The roof of the Richmond Baths is pretty amazing, like a zeppelin hanger ! (Pics 1-4 not mine).

It was built in 1936, not sure why such an extravagant roof, but it was the first Olympic sized pool in Melbourne with a roof. The frontage is very restrained by comparison, in red brick Georgian style (the almost matching bit to the left was added in the 1980s).

The Richmond Baths were first established here in 1897 as an open air pool, the first municipal pool outside the CBD, Fitzroy following in 1908. Interesting they were both poorer suburbs, most houses without bathrooms, but the pools didn’t include individual baths like the City Baths. I think you had a swim and got clean at the same time, but they only changed the water once a week…. There’s a surprising number of photos from the 1900s-1920s some showing events, including girls, who at first could only go on women-only Fridays. Last pic is the gym in 1916.

I also like that the arches trusses are painted orangey-red, like the Golden Gate Bridge, also 1930s.

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