When the Kogarah-Sans Souci tramway was inaugurated in 1887 Mr. G. Hughes who conducted boat-sheds and store at Rocky Point, now known as Sans Souci, interested himself in the erection of swimming baths at Rocky Point. The matter was taken up by Kogarah Council, the then Mayor, favouring the site, but Alderman Myles McRae advocated their erection at Oatley Bay.
As no decision was arrived at Mr. Hughes received promises from local residents to subscribe sufficient funds for the erection of the baths. By an oversight he paid the deposit, which had been handed to him by Mr. Peter Herrmann, for the lease of the required area in the name of the latter.
Mr. Hughes intended to form a company, and urged Mr. Herrmann to call a meeting of intending subscribers. After some delay Mr. Hughes was informed by Mr. Herrmann that there was no necessity to call a meeting as he had arranged with Mr. Peter Moore and Mr. Peter Ballman to construct the baths.
When the baths were erected they were known for a time as the ‘Three Peters’ Baths”. Since then the area has been resumed for park purposes, and Kogarah Council’s municipal baths near the old site now caters for thousands of bathers in the summer season.
This article was first published in the June 1964 edition of our magazine.
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