Communal bathing is finally taking off in Australia

The dedicated public bath has been a thing since at least 2500 BC, the origin date archaeologists give to what is known as the Great Bath, excavated in the early 1900s in present-day Pakistan. Dogo Onsen, on the Japanese island of Shikoku, is believed to have been used for about 3000 years for communal cleansing.

The Romans embraced the concept, and remnants of their ardour for the bath still exist in central Rome and elsewhere (Bath in England is called Bath for a reason). Hungary has long loved a communal bath house, so too Turkey. The Swiss do, as does anywhere with thermal springs, and of course, South Korea – as plenty of Sydneysiders could attest without having ever been to the country.

Soak bathhouse on the Gold Coast.

For decades, Potts Point was home to the Ginseng Bathhouse, known colloquially as the Korean Baths, where it was said more than five million soakers came for a little R&R.

But as they have done for millennia, public baths are evolving and driven by our ever-expanding interest in wellness. Now a new generation of bathhouses is rising in urban destinations, including Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

“We’ve seen incredible demand and growing interest in wellness experiences that are accessible, social, and built around conscious connection,” says Alexis Dean, co-owner of Soak, a bathhouse company that began in Queensland at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, with another following in Brisbane’s West End.

In 2025, Soak is opening two more offshoots, scheduled for March or April. One will be in Melbourne’s South Yarra, and another in Alexandria in inner Sydney, with Bondi Junction also on the way.

Sense of Self’s bathhouse offers a new kind of wellness experience. Credit: Martina Gemmola

“There’s been a real shift in how people view wellness, and it’s no longer seen as a luxury or a special treat, but a regular, intentional practice,” says Dean. “People are recognising the value of consistent, small rituals and routines that help them feel better and live more balanced lives.

“The bathhouse experience fits perfectly into this shift because it’s accessible and designed to promote regular well-being. A session in a warm mineral spa or an infrared sauna doesn’t just help you relax, it can improve circulation, reduce stress, and even enhance your sleep quality.”

Victoria is somewhat spoiled for choice, with its spring waters spawning long-established bathing properties on the Mornington Peninsula, Daylesford Shire and Gippsland.

Sense Of Self Collingwood, Melbourne.

Even so, it already has a new generation urban bathhouse, the super-stylish Sense of Self (SOS) in Collingwood on the city fringe – and it’s booked solid. SOS is also expanding, set to open a second, 1000-metre-square facility in Sydney’s inner east this year.

Chic design and easy accessibility for those living in and visiting cities are the hallmarks of these places. So too, bathing suits – unlike many of the traditional experiences where nudity is requisite. Dean says what also sets the new-style bathhouse apart from the traditional is connection.

“While traditional bathhouses focus on silence and introspection, we believe wellness is about conscious connection as much as self-care. Soak is a space where you can spend quality time and enjoy genuine in-person connection with friends, family, or even just yourself. We’ve also brought the healing powers of the natural world into the urban location, creating a serene environment where guests can reconnect with both themselves and the natural world around them.”

Elsewhere, New York City, always ahead of the curve, is awash – pardon the pun – with bathhouses, both old-school and new. Bathhouse in Williamsburg is a hip choice.

See soakbathhouse.com.au ; sos-senseofself.com ; abathhouse.com