The Gladstone Town Baths in 1900 

This photo taken in 1900 is of the Town Baths Enclosure (when George & Grace Phillips leased it), the Customs Boathouse & Friends Store. George and Grace Phillips came to the Gladstone area c1890 and decided to try their luck at gold digging. They soon found this was very hard work, with little return, so they moved into Gladstone where Grace bought a business conducting the bathing closure on the banks of Auckland Creek. George had a love for boats and joining Grace’s business, hired out pleasure craft. Their son, Dick (who married Elizabeth Gunzler from Blackgate, Calliope) was also keen on boats and he assisted his father in this venture. George and Grace had the pleasure of owning the first motor-driven watercraft used in Gladstone. They conducted these businesses for fourteen years and then sold (both the baths and vessels) to Bill Hodge.