SORRENTO SEA BATHS JETTY
3278 POINT NEPEAN ROAD SORRENTO, MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The site is historically significant for its association with the actor, entrepreneur and parliamentarian George Selth Coppin (1819- 1906) whose enterprise was largely responsible for the development of Sorrento as a seaside resort from the 1870s to the 1890s. Coppin established a number of business ventures including the Sorrento Sea Baths, a steamer Service from Melbourne, the Continental Hotel, and a tramway to encourage tourism to Sorrento.
The site is archaeologically significant for its potential to yield archaeologial information relating to early tourism and, more specifically, the practice of sea bathing as therapeutic activity attendant to an expansion in the development of seaside resorts driven by the advent of cheap safe transport by rail and sea.
Examination of the stuctual remains has the potential to provide a significant insight into the layout and construction methods used in the structure .
HISTORY
. The date of construction of the Baths has not yet been determined, however licence for construction of a "Ladies Baths" at the site was granted in 1874. An advertisement in The Centennial almanac, (1888) indicates that in 1888 the baths were "extended 40 feet." and "thououghly repaired, improved, and painted at a cost of £400" indicating that by then the baths had been in service for sufficient time to need significant maintenance.
. The baths were purchased in 1888 by the Sorrento Sea Baths' Company Limited which appears to have been formed by Sorrento Resident George Coppin who is listed as managing director of the Company. The purchase of the Baths seens to have been a part of a plan to develop Sorrento as a tourist destination.
. George Selth Coppin was a comic actor, entrepreneur and Member of Parliament. Though Coppin's main spheres of activity revolved around his interest in the theatre and politics. He also saw opportunity in the township of Sorrento, purchasing land there and subsequently promoting it as a resort.
. Coppin's entrepreuerialism led to the construction of the Continental Hotel (1875), a guesthouse, houses , the baths, and a tramway between the township and the Back Beach, and the sale of property adjacent to the Continental hotel to allow for the establishment of shops.
. Coppin was also instrumental in the formation of the Sorrento and Queenscliff Steam Navigation Company, which purchased the paddle steamer Golden Crown with the intent of offering reduced fares for the the Melbourne to Sorrento route.
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THE ANCHORAGEVictorian Heritage Register H1899
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CONTINENTAL HOTELVictorian Heritage Register H1896
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ATHENAEUMVictorian Heritage Register H2227
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