On Tour! Discovering the Brighton Beach Boxes

The Brighton Beach Boxes are the first stop on our Phillip Island tour, where you’ll get the opportunity to visit the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks. These vibrant boxes are visited by hundreds of tourists each day, making Brighton Beach one of the city’s most visited beaches! But have you ever seen the pictures and wondered, what makes these beach boxes so iconic to Melbourne?

The Brighton Beach Boxes have been a part of the suburb’s life for more than 100 years. The iconic seascape is immediately recognisable to the bayside area and proves to be a popular landmark for weddings, holiday makers, photographers & travellers from all over the globe.

Originally the boxes were used as ladies’ changing sheds in the 1800s, until the council took over management in 1877. Since then the boxes have survived the bayside elements – although a few have reportedly washed away over time.

Today the bathing boxes remain almost unchanged, with all boxes retaining classic timber framing, weatherboards and corrugated iron roofs. Licensees’ also have the freedom to express their artistic flair by painting them – however, colours and designs still need to be approved by the local council. Selling for up to $330,000 AUD, these boxes have become some of the city’s most exclusive and, on a square metre basis, expensive real estate. It’s no secret that the Brighton Beach Boxes are highly sought after!

Thanks to these distinctive decorations, the boxes turn the Brighton seaside into an iconic Melbourne attraction that can transform by the hour according to season, light and colour. Just try to resist pulling out your camera and snapping away. Check out the video below to see what it’s like to own one of these iconic Melbourne boxes!