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In 1902 a man named Joe Gocher flouted Section 77 of the Police Offences Act which prohibited bathing between 9.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m. Following this, sea bathing was allowed without fear of prosecution. As surf-bathing became more and more popular the necessity for changing areas was recognised, and in 1909 Waverley Council invited designs for surfing accommodation at Bondi Beach for 750 men and 250 women. The tender by Taylor and Bills, of 3,000 pound for bathing sheds was accepted, the work completed, and the building opened for public use on October 3, 1911. The estimated revenue from the bathing sheds for a year was 900 pound, and expenditure 458 pound. Charges were: Adults 2d. and Children 1d. The Bondi Improvement Scheme was launched in 1923, and in 1928 the foundation stone for the new pavilion was laid. The new design included dressing accommodation for 12,000 people, Turkish baths, shops, gymnasium and ballroom. From the 1950's on, the use of the pavilion declined, and Waverley Municipal Council later commenced a rebuilding programme which enabled the Bondi Beach complex to be converted to a community centre. The Bondi Pavilion Community Centre was opened in June 1978, providing a wide range of classes, workshops, exhibitions, concerts, theatre productions and other activities. Bondi Pavilion was classified by the National Trust in 1977 as a structure of significant historic character--one of the best known features of Sydney's beach improvement schemes.' Published by Waverley Library in association with Heritage Week, 1981. |
