Beaumaris in Bayside, Victoria, Australia — Oceania
Tom Roberts
The Sunny South c.1887
| — | Bayside Art Trail | — |
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, August 29, 2026
1. Tom Roberts Marker
The young men in the picture are thoroughly at home in their environment, taking shade under the banksias and stretching either before or after a refreshing swim. Nude bathing had been common practice during the mid-1800s mainly for the purpose of washing, but by the late 1800s strict bathing laws were in place.
It appears from this painting that the bathing laws of the day were often ignored. This image may be a record of the artists' afternoon swim, before they walked back to their rented cottage, prepared a meal, and settled in for an evening of storytelling and debate on art.
Born England 1856; Arrived 1869; Died Victoria 1931
Oil on Canvas, 30.8 x 61.4 cm
Erected by Bayside City Council. (Marker Number 34.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.
Location. 37° 59.462′ S, 145° 1.733′ E. Marker is in Beaumaris, Victoria, in Bayside. It can be reached from Beach Road (Victoria
this page online
Regionally, it is in Oceania, in Australasia, in the Pacific Ocean, in South Pacific, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 18 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ricketts Point (here, next to this marker); Boon Wurrung Blossom (here, next to this marker); The Grange (approx. 10.3 kilometers away); Flying Saucer Sighting (approx. 10.4 kilometers away); Caulfield Commons (approx. 12.3 kilometers away); Indigenous History and Mapping the Past (approx. 15.5 kilometers away); Blackie-Ironmonger Stand (approx. 15.7 kilometers away); Shire of Mulgrave Honour Roll Cenotaph (approx. 16.9 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beaumaris.
Also see . . . The Sunny South (painting). Wikipedia
The Sunny South is an 1887 painting by the Australian artist Tom Roberts.(Submitted on September 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)The painting depicts a group of boys swimming naked at Ricketts Point at Beaumaris, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne.Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, August 29, 20262. Tom Roberts Marker along the trail
The painting was acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria in 1940 with funds from the Felton Bequest.
The title appears to be a triple entendre. The title refers to the popular show titled The Sunny South, which was a popular play first produced in Melbourne by George Darrell and starring Essie Jenyns in 1883, four years before the painting was finished, then taken to London. Ricketts Point, Beaumaris, is a seaside suburb to the south of Melbourne particularly popular during summertime. The third reference could be to the exposed backside of the central figure in the painting.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
