A lot has changed in Yeppoon since it became a ‘resort’ village in 1873 and from when beach and bathing boxes began to line Yeppoon’s main beach.
The view in this postcard is from the Bluff end of the Yeppoon main beach looking south and is thought to have been taken around 1920.
You can see about 16 beach huts in the postcard, published by Galieh Bros., who were drapers of Yeppoon.1 In all, scores of sheds lined Yeppoon’s foreshore by 1930, providing shelter, change rooms and storage of personal items for seaside goers. Many sheds were privately owned.
The apparel of white shirt, trousers and dress shoes is far from what you see of those strolling along the beach today. The hills and coastline in the background with much greenery compare to today’s built environment along the coast. The closest hill in the view is today’s locale of Taranganbah.
The sheds have long gone. A cyclone passing out to sea destroyed them in the first week of February, 1931, leaving the beach strewn with debris.2 Only 3 of the 55 were left standing. According to a newspaper article, ten inches of rain and pounding seas created a “night of terror” for residents.3
The council removed the debris and salvaged what they could with the intent of replacing the shelters.
This took its time apparently when in the Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) of February 17, 1931, Mr C. Iredale was quoted as saying “I am fully convinced that something must be done, and that at once, for last Sunday it was deplorable to the people without shade”.4
Interesting facts about the Yeppoon bathing boxes
- February 1928 – The welfare of Yeppoon comes into question because someone had built a bathing box that was deemed an ‘eyesore’.5
- February 1931 – A blow from an unnamed cyclone* destroys the bathing sheds.3
- November 1931 – New bathing boxes erected by the Livingstone Shire Council, who are considering a rental fee of £2** per year. Ratepayers show disapproval.6
- January 1932 – One beach shack owner objects to the council’s proposal of moving the huts beyond the rocks. His rent is 10s (half a pound) per annum.7
* Australia’s policy of naming cyclones started in 1963.
** Australia’s currency changed to dollars and cents in 1966 from pounds, shillings and pence, where 20 shillings made up one pound, and 12 pence made up a shilling. With the change over, £1 was converted $2 and a shilling to 10c. Six pence became five cents.8
Information Sources
- Advertising (1915, December 27). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 9. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53407134
- YEPPOON BATHING SHEDS (1931, February 7). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 9. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54691353
- A CYCLONIC GALE. (1931, February 6). Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 – 1954), p. 6. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61580859
- YEPPOON BATHING SHEDS (1931, February 17). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 5. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54692558
- YEPPOON. (1928, February 8). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55295374
- RENTING BATHING BOXES. (1931, November 3). The Evening News (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1924 – 1941), p. 6. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202403233
- BATHING BOXES (1932, January 6). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 6. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55394846
- RBA. “Learning About Decimal Currency”, https://museum.rba.gov.au/exhibitions/the-decimal-revolution/resources/pdf/learning-about-decimal-currency.pdf
