1933
Take a trip down memory lane
The unique character and ambience within this NZ Historic Place (category one) Bathhouse is alive and well – and its founding principle as “a place for people to have fun in ” remains true. The original Juvenile Pool has been fully restored and two soak pools added, the Adult pool has been ‘shallowed’ and is now a large event space covered by a 5 m ceiling. The Foyer and upstairs “Tearoom” (now Social Room) are frequently, once again, “the social hub of the city”. A gallery in the former adult male changing rooms houses an interpretative display of the building past, and is available by arrangement to view.
1938
For the first time, men and women could get (almost) naked, together in public
1941
a reflection of the changing attitudes and increasingly relaxed moods in existence after the First World War. The intention was also to make Rotorua the chief centre of the Dominions sporting activities. To that end, the Blue Baths also offered instruction in “fancy and scientific swimming” as well as diving tuition
1952
Wartime & Water Woes
A reflection of the changing attitudes and increasingly relaxed moods in existence after the First World War. The intention was also to make Rotorua the chief centre of the Dominions sporting activities. To that end, the Blue Baths also offered instruction in “fancy and scientific swimming” as well as diving tuition.
1962
Even the intervention of the Second World War did little to dim people’s enthusiasm for the baths, though the threat from enemy shipping proved an effective deterrent to visitors from abroad, severely curtailing the number of swimmers for the duration of the conflict.
People flocked there from all over to luxuriate in their warm blue waters.
1972
Even the intervention of the Second World War did little to dim people’s enthusiasm for the baths, though the threat from enemy shipping proved an effective deterrent to visitors from abroad, severely curtailing the number of swimmers for the duration of the conflict.
1982
The water was no longer blue, but cloudy white and sulphurous and there was some talk it was dangerous – the feeling being that if a swimmer disappeared beneath the waters, he would not be noticed. But still they came. No longer luxurious and beginning to show signs of neglect they still managed to captivate successive generations of swimmers and their fame grew.
Everlasting Hope
But in the end, the mass appeal of the Blue Baths overcame all else, even continuing problems with the water supply. The loss of their original water source in 1942 sparked a public outcry, when instead of piping in sparkling azure water from Whakarewarewa’s famed Rachel Springs; the baths were tapped directly into the town’s geothermal bores.
1999
Blue Baths reopened 21st December 1999, 68 years to the day they originally charmed the world.
But the Blue Baths are obviously blessed by the gods. Though they did not have a charmed existence after they closed, they did continue to exist, escaping both the bulldozers and threat of being made-over into a martial arts and fitness centre. In 1999, a joint project between the Rotorua District Council and developer Mike Romanes saw the Blue Baths painstakingly and lovingly restored.
Present
The unique character and ambience within this NZ Historic Place (category one) Bathhouse is alive and well – and its founding principle as “a place for people to have fun in ” remains true. The original Juvenile Pool has been fully restored and two soak pools added, the Adult pool has been ‘shallowed’ and is now a large event space covered by a 5 m ceiling. The Foyer and upstairs “Tearoom” (now Social Room) are frequently, once again, “the social hub of the city”.
A gallery in the former adult male changing rooms houses an interpretative display of the building past, and is available by arrangement to view.
