Inglis Memorial Sundial
Growing up in the eastern suburbs in the 1960s, prurient schoolboy interest led me and friends to venture up to the northern point of Coogee and attempt to peep
over a tall paling fence that extended past the Giles' Baths building. Behind the fence was what was known colloquially as the 'nuditorium' where nature lovers
sunbathed naked seeking the supposed therapeutic benefits of the sun's rays. We lived in hope that one day we would catch a glimpse of naked and beautiful young women. Alas, all we ever saw
and not realising the bath's history as a "men's baths" , much to our disgust, were gentlemen
of advanced age whose skin colour and texture resembled pieces of old polished mahogany furniture.
Male Sanctuary
A press report from 1953 outlines the true nature of the activities behind that wooden fence:
Behind an 8ft. paling fence on a headland above Coogee Beach is a "hide-out" for sporting celebrities. There, the big men in
horseracing, football, cricket, boxing, and athletics can relax - without fear of the camera, the autograph-hunter, or the gaping public.
It is also woman-proof, a rendezvous for men only. With no fear of intruders, patrons can sunbake in the nude - while almost within talking distance
hard-eyed beach inspectors hunt away beauties parading. on the public beach in Bikini-style brevity. This Shangri-la for sportsmen has been running for 50 years,
and was founded by its present director, a 76-years-old former athlete.
Giles Baths Demolished to Reveal Sundial
When the Giles Baths building was demolished in 2000, the 'nuditorium' fence was also removed and the area was incorporated as a public part of Dunningham Reserve, near what is now the
Bali memorial. For the first-time everyone could see a red granite memorial plinth surmounted by a sun-dial bearing the dedication to Walter "Sam" Inglis.
Sundial Unveiled 1940
Walter Alexander "Sam" Inglis (born Sydney 1874 - 22nd February 1940) was a well-known patron of Giles' Baths who regularly taught young boys to swim and box. When he dies in 1940, he lived at
41 Bream Street, Coogee. In honour of his
service a memorial sun dial mounted on a stone was erected within the grounds of the Baths in 1940. More than two hundred subscribed to a fund to pay the £60 to
create the memorial. A crowd of people gathered to see the unveiling of the memorial by Mr. T. Watson on Sunday, 26th May 1940.
The inscription on the southern side of the
red granite memorial is hard to see, but reads:
"W. A. Inglis ("Sam") Memorial 1940"
Ol' Sol's Rays
His obituary in the Sydney Truth of Sunday 25 February 1940 page 14, hints at the Inglis devotion to sunbathing:
Patrons of Giles' Baths at Coogee for the past 40 years will hear with regret the sudden death of Sam Inglis. Sam was a popular idol, devoting his time to all
the kids, providing all manner of games besides teaching hundreds to swim. A characteristic greeting of the late Samuel was 'copping the lot,' meaning old Sol's rays!
References
'Sanctuary for stars' The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), Tue 6 Jan 1953, Page 4
'Inglis Memorial unveiling at Coogee', The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 22 May 1940, p. 13
["Patrons ...], Truth (Sydney), Sun 25 Feb 1940, Page 14
'Memorial to veteran Swimmer', The Sydney Morning Herald Mon 27 May 1940. P. 13
'Family notices', The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 23 Mar 1940, Page 11
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