The old-fashioned bathing boxes of Dendy Street Beach, many painted in bright primary colours, have become a coach tour destination in their own right. Young Asian tourists, conservatively dressed, step around the sun-bronzed Aussie bodies - basking like so many sea lions - to set up the all-important selfie.

Originally built to preserve morality and dignity of Victorian-era swimmers at a time when bikinis and 'budgie smugglers' weren’t the accepted form of swimwear, the boxes have survived heavy storms, disrepair and attempts by local government to have them removed. Today they are highly prized and occasionally offered for sale. The most recent price realised was A$300,000 (US$240,000).