Swimwear Over the Centuries - History Week 2025: Water Stories

Swimwear Over the Centuries

We 'lap' Australians’ interaction with water for sport and recreation centring on a history of swimwear from colonial times. As a country synonymous with beach culture, we have had a troubled relationship with what we wear in water. Our swimwear (or lack of) has been considered dangerous - something for society to control – yet beach wear is tied to our national identity.
We encounter gazetted swimming, scandalous colonial troops, modesty panels, bathing machines, beach inspectors, bikinis and swimmers who changed attitudes to our bodies. We are, after all, the only country which has two prime ministers famous for letting it all hang out and one who died in his ‘budgie smugglers’.

Cost: $free

Where: Manly Library, 1 Market Street, Manly

Organised by: Northern Beaches Council and HCNSW through the Speaker Connect Program.

Link: https://events.humanitix.com/history-week-swimwear-over-the-centuries

Image credits: Brighton Swimming Club, 1863

The History Council of NSW is supported by a grant from the NSW Government through Create NSW.