Mt Martha is a village on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. It is not far from Rye where we are staying and it so happens I have a friend, Bill, living at Mt Martha. I went to teachers' college with him back in 1962/63 we lost touch when we were teaching in P/NG but we renewed our friendship at reunions that we have had since 2002. Today our daughter was busy catching up with lots of her friends so we took the opportunity to visit Bill, who invited us to lunch.
With our trusty GPS, Kate, we found our way to Bill's house. We met his lovely partner, Avril, and spent hours catching up with their travelling exploits. He took us for a drive to the nearby Mt Martha beach, famous for its colourful beach boxes. It was a drizzly, blustery cool day so there was no one on the beach.
They are leased and are not allowed to be lived in and there is no electricity, water or sewerage connections allowed. No more are allowed to be built. Thus they have become extremely expensive to lease if any become available. They can be be up to $100,000.
But this was a week day and it was cold. Us Queenslanders had to rug up. Crazy Victorian weather, hot one day and freezing the next not like Queensland, "sunny one day and perfect the next"
With our trusty GPS, Kate, we found our way to Bill's house. We met his lovely partner, Avril, and spent hours catching up with their travelling exploits. He took us for a drive to the nearby Mt Martha beach, famous for its colourful beach boxes. It was a drizzly, blustery cool day so there was no one on the beach.
Bill shows us the beach and the colourful beach boxes also known as bathing boxes, beach huts or boat sheds.
For over 100 years people have been coming to the Mornington Peninsula for holidays. In the early days people built the bathing boxes for modesty reasons.
Today they are used for storage of boats or possessions related to having fun on the beach.
On warm weekends the huts are opened and many people are playing and laughing together with good community spirit.
You captured the colour of the boxes very well. Not so sure about the sand. Is it really that yellow/orange?
ReplyDeleteA bathing box in the expensive suburb of Brighton recently sold for $220,000.
Next to Mt Martha is Martha's Cove. I guess you saw that. It is actually within the town of Safety Beach but that does nothing for property prices. It was originally called Shark Bay. Spin started many years ago and continues.
Have you been up to Arthur's Seat? Done the maze up there? Cape Schank? The deck at the Portsea Hotel? Actually, the much cheaper Rosebud Hotel is nice. Ferry to Queenscliff?
Goodness they are bright colours, plus the sand!
ReplyDeleteOh well, weather down this end of the world can be rather fickle :)Annoying in one way, at least up north you don't have to be concerned about whether to dress for the heat or the cold!
Have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year...be safe.. Margaret xx
beautiful boxes and yikes on the expense... it is always nice to meet up with old friends.
ReplyDeleteThey look very colourful! In the Netherlands we have the same kind of little houses on the beach, but they have to be built up and broken down each summer again and stay in storage in winter. The owners are allowed to sleep in them during the summer, but I am not sure they have electricity. They are not so colourful, mostly white wood.
ReplyDeleteLove those colors. I want one. I'm off to California tomorrow. Wish you were over there.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors of these beach huts! What a fun picture taking opportunity! And great chance to catch up with your good friend!
ReplyDeletewow! talk about prime real estate! so colorful, too!
ReplyDeleteI first thought you were at the English coast ! On top there is also a little town called Rye ! Must have been an immigrant from this area who gave the name to the place and the beach houses look like the once along the Eastbourne beach. People use them to keep their things in it and picnic stuff like tables and seats. But some of them even have a little kitchen, but not everywhere. They too are very expensive !
ReplyDeleteThose beach huts are gorgeous. Happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous beach and those beach boxes are so colorful. I have never before seen a "beach box". I don't mean to be stupid, but what are they for. Keeping out of the sun...??? Really cute looking. Also , how fun to reconnect with an old friend! Have a great day
ReplyDeleteThe beach huts are so colorful! Love seeing the row of various colors. It is a pretty beach! A nice outing with your old friend.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
that last photo is really lovely. i'd like to wish you both a merry christmas and hope that 2014 is a good year for you with lots of travel included.
ReplyDeleteit is so colourful and a great photo opportunity along there isn't it? I have seen it on tv but not for real like you have; good to see! Nice to catch up with your friend from yesteryear. Best wishes
ReplyDeleteThose colourful beach boxes are bloody awesome I would love it if they had them around here.
ReplyDeleteWOW! How cool are those beach huts??!? The photos are wonderful. It sounds like you are having a grand time. GOOD!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful- so vibrant! Miss you all
ReplyDeleteHi Diane! Lovely colours on this post!!
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great holiday season! Sorry for the absence, but work and concerns are keeping me away from Blogtrotter... Anyhow, enjoy my latest post at Tobago, and have a great season!
Wish you all the best for 2014, hopefully better than 2013!
Excellent pictures, reminds me a bit of the Caribean.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
and Merry Christmas.
merry christmas!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Merry Christmas to you both, Diana and Bill! What colorful photos, those little sheds are very cheery looking. I wonder what the original builders of them would think about their expensive cost today? CT and I hope you are having a lovely Christmas and wish you and your family all the best in 2014.
ReplyDelete