Story: City public spaces

New Brighton pier (2nd of 4)

New Brighton pier

The rise in popularity of sea swimming, and the expansion of public transport in the early 20th century, increased the popularity of city beaches. On some of the more fashionable beaches entrepreneurs opened sideshows and refreshment rooms. A pier was built at Christchurch’s New Brighton beach – shown here in the 1910s – in the hope of copying the success of its English namesake.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Sydney Charles Smith Collection (PA-Group-00242)
Reference: 1/2-047403; G
Photograph by Sydney Charles Smith

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Geoffrey Rice, 'City public spaces - Beaches, shorelines and waterfronts', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/22931/new-brighton-pier (accessed 11 May 2024)

Story by Geoffrey Rice, published 11 Mar 2010