Deception Bay Sea Baths

Situated among the mangroves on the Deception Bay foreshore, are two sea baths. They were built by the Bancroft family in the late 19th Century. Carved from sandstone in the intertidal zones they were naturally filled and drained by the tides. The smaller one (3m long and 1.8 m wide) was used by Ann Bancroft to relieve the chronic ailments she suffered. The larger bath, which is 4.5m long and 2.7m wide, is known as the fisheries bath, and was used by the family for recreational purposes. Sea bathing was promoted for its health advantages during this era and new fields of research and experimentation emerged around the therapeutic benefits of the seaside. These pools are the only known surviving 19th century baths in Queensland. Joseph Bancroft and his son Thomas made significant contributions to medical research, particularly parasitology. Joseph discovered the Wucheria Bancrofti parasitic worm which causes elephantiasis and Thomas discovered that the parasite was transmitted by the Aedes Aegypi mosquito. Much of their research was carried out at their Deception Bay property.