Story: Washing, cleaning and personal hygiene

Outhouse, 1938 (2nd of 5)

By the 1930s most new homes had internal washhouses at the back, but not all did, as this 1938 plan for Railways Department houses shows. The washhouse is contained in a separate outhouse along with a toilet, and the plan specifies that the structure had to be placed at least 15 feet (4.5 metres) from the house. This washhouse comprised a concrete boiler and two concrete tubs. 

Using this item

Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference: NZ Map 7028

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Washing, cleaning and personal hygiene - Washing clothes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/40786/outhouse-1938 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 Sep 2013