Remember when Cottesloe had a beachside pool?

With all this chat about the Indiana Tearooms and enjoying the annual artistic delight of Sculptures By The Sea (not to mention the endless summer vibes we’re soaking up), we’re reminiscing about long, hot days spent at Cottesloe.

(Have you checked out the very excellent State Library of Western Australia Facebook page?)

Not to age ourselves here (we have a stringent moisturising routine, so you’d never know), but splashing in that concrete paddling pool is a core memory of our ’90s childhoods.

Pictured here in 1966, the pool and its neighbouring boardwalk were built in 1963 – a few years after the construction of the groyne.

Prior to this, there was a 400-foot jetty that was completed in 1906 and the remains of which were demolished in 1952 (pictured below), as well as a diving jetty that was built in October of 1921 and was swept away only four months after its completion!

Both of these images were taken during the ’60s, but we think one definitely conveys the boardwalk (and Cottesloe Beach’s) popularity a bit more:

While Cottesloe is now pretty iconic, we can’t get over how different it’s looked over the years. From the shade huts and finery of 1907, to the heaving jetty (and wildly different Indiana Tea House!) pictured in 1918, or even the 1984 Breakers kiosk – where you’ll now find Ol’ Buoy and Indigo Oscar.

Some things are a bit more timeless though, like this 1972 rainbow of beach umbrellas sprinkled across the sand:

Or, like this 1975 photograph, staring wistfully out into the horizon, enjoying the sea breeze in your hair:

Some photos are available to purchase via the State Library Of WA. All photos, unless stated, via the State Library Of WA.