This panorama shows the front of Melbourne City Baths. The red and white brck facade of this classical building is striking, marking an older period in Melbourne's history. The tram stop outside the baths are very busy (over 10 tram lines use this route), and it took some take to get a clear picture of the building. And just as I did, the only cloud in the sky covered the sun.

Melbourne City Baths - Melbourne visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Melbourne City Baths' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Victoria.

Melbourne City Baths are an historic building just north of the business district in Melbourne, about half way between Carlton Gardens and Queen Market on Victoria Street. The baths first opened in 1860 and has provided a valuable health and fitness resource for the city ever since. In 1860, it housed public baths which were used by those too poor to afford private baths in their own homes at a time when the Yarra River had become polluted and was no longer safe to bathe in. Within the first year of opening it t was reported that 79,096 men and 2,950 women used the baths. Gradually the building fell into disrepair and were closed by 1899.

The current building dates from 1904, with segregation of the sexes from entry onwards. The baths then contained two swimming pools, 16 slipper baths and six spray baths each for the men and women. In addition the buiding also housed Turkish and vapour baths, a Jewish ceremonial (Mikvah) and a laundry. Mixed bathing was introduced in 1947. Swimming greatly increased in popularity after the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956, with over 300,000 people using the Melbourne City Baths each year.

Today, the Melbourne City Baths is a leading health, fitness and wellness centre providing a full range of activities with state of the art equipment. It has won the Fitness Victoria 2008 Industry Award for Fitness Centre of the Year.

Melbourne City Baths
420 Swanston Street
Melbourne 3000

Tram: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 25, 61, 64, 66, 67, 72, 73