Charles Bastard

'''Robert Charles Bastard''' (4 February 1863 – 6 November 1941) was an Australian swimming teacher who succeeded his father '''Thomas Barnabas Bastard''' as lessee of Adelaide's "City Baths". When the council upgraded the facility to include the city's only Olympic-size swimming pool, Bastard was retained as a supervisor.

==History== Charles Bastard first came to public notice in 1869, when he was already a strong swimmer in various styles, and to amuse patrons of the City Baths would perform aquatic feats such as retrieving a shilling coin thrown into the deepest part of the pool.<ref name="master">{{cite news |date=7 March 1914 |title=The Swimming Master |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5419059 |accessdate=12 December 2020 |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |page=6 |via=Trove |volume=LVI |issue=17,282}}</ref> After leaving school, Charles Bastard worked for two years in an architect's office before studying chemistry, but he eventually decided to manage the city baths.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 June 1930 |title=Familiar Faces |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129010793 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |newspaper=The News |location=South Australia |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XIV |issue=2,145}}</ref>

On the death of their father, Charles and his brother Philip Stewart (Stuart?) Bastard, later known as Philip Stuart<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224621076 |title=Probate Jurisdiction |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=122 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 August 1921 |accessdate=25 August 2025 |page=4905 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> (1853–1920) inherited the lease of the City Baths. In 1885 Charles bought out his brother and took charge of the Baths.

Bastard was inspired to teach swimming from his boyhood days in Adelaide, when he tried but was unsuccessful in rescuing a boy from drowning in the Torrens River.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 November 1941 |title=Death of Mr C. Bastard |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131972477 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |newspaper=The News |location=South Australia |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Over the years he was called upon numerous times to assist with rescuing and recovering drowning victims from the Torrens River.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 October 1881 |title=Coroner's Inquest |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197761434 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |newspaper=Evening Journal |location=South Australia |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XIII |issue=3893}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 1900 |title=Sad Drowning Fatality |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29528401 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=South Australia |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1886 he was employed by the South Australian Commissioner of Police to provide practical instructions to the Police Force "restoring the apparently drowned".<ref>{{cite news |date=26 August 1886 |title=Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44574794 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=South Australia |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=LI |issue=12,413}}</ref>

In 1895, Bastard began to offer a Bush Biscuit to every boy who recorded their name at the City Bath and also passed a swimming test.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=3 January 1925 |title=Around the City |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199248483 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |newspaper=Saturday Journal |location=South Australia |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=LX |issue=16265}}</ref> In 1925, over 500 Bush Biscuits were awarded to boys in one season.<ref name=":0" />

It was estimated that he taught over 14,000 people to swim.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 November 1941 |title=Obituary |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74623038 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

He died at the Wakefield Street Hospital and his remains interred with those of his mother, at the West Terrace Cemetery.

== The Adelaide City Baths == [[File:Charles Bastard.png|thumb|Charles Bastard by J. H. Chinner]] The original City Baths (1863–1913), on King William Road below Parliament House, was erected by the Adelaide City Council, and its first manager ("Keeper of the Baths") was a council employee, John Cox, previously Overseer of Works, and was operated by the Council as no tenders were received for its lease, due to the cost of water. After a three year delay a seven-year lease of the property was put up for tender, and Thomas Bastard was the successful applicant, and renewed it another two times before he died.

The first pool was {{convert|75 by 25|ft}}, depth {{convert|6 and 3|ft}} at the two ends. It was open to men and boys only; no bathers were worn, and admission was 3d.<ref name="link">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55776395 |title=Mr Bastard's Link with Old Baths |newspaper=The Mail (Adelaide) |volume=28 |issue=1,442 |location=South Australia |date=13 January 1940 |accessdate=12 December 2020 |page=24 |via=Trove}}</ref> (three pence, perhaps $2 in today's values). It was rebuilt in 1883 and reopened a few months after Thomas Bastard's death. The new facility had two pools — the large pool {{convert|100 by 30|ft}} and {{convert|7|ft}} at the deep end, another {{convert|40 by 30|ft}} and {{convert|3 or 4|ft}} deep for instruction purposes.<ref name="link" />

In May 1887 he converted the pool to a (roller) skating rink for the colder months when patronage by swimmers was at a minimum. The floor of {{convert|117 x 35.5|ft}} was entirely of jarrah planks, supported on jarrah posts and beams.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 May 1887 |title=Adelaide Skating Rink |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46093385 |accessdate=12 December 2020 |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=South Australia |page=7 |via=Trove |volume=LII |issue=12,636}}</ref>

The Baths had a major makeover in 1910, with viewing platforms and showers installed and walls tiled.<ref name="link" /> Women had been admitted for years, but until Annette Kellerman made bathing fashionable there were few female patrons.{{efn|Bastard later claimed some share in Kellerman's success.<ref name=master/>}}

That was, in turn, replaced in 1940, built to Olympic standards, with a separate diving pool and tiered stands for spectators. The City Baths was totally demolished in 1972 to make way for the Festival Centre.

In 1888 Bastard took over management of the Columbia Rink in Calcutta for the firm of Ridgley & Raymond, leaving longtime employee Fred Needham in charge.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204462921 |title=Rinking in Calcutta |newspaper=The Evening Journal (Adelaide) |volume=XX |issue=5936 |location=South Australia |date=22 October 1888 |accessdate=12 December 2020 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref>

Bastard was appointed caretaker and foreman of the new Baths. <gallery> File:City Baths in Adelaide 1938.jpg|City Baths in Adelaide 1938, drained to host a wrestling competition File:Swimming Contest, City Baths, Adelaide.jpg|View of the City Baths during a swimming contest about 1896 File:City Baths, King William Road 1890.jpg|City Baths, King William Road, approx 1890. File:Adelaide City Baths 1941.jpg|Adelaide City Baths after being rebuilt in 1941. File:City Baths, King William Road, Adelaide.jpg|The City baths with its Dutch gables about 1890. File:Aerial view of Adelaide Riverbank, 1928.jpg|Aerial view of part of Adelaide near the Railway Station 1929. The old City Baths is in the foreground, opposite the tram on King William Road. The building between the baths and Parliament House is the Government Printing Office. </gallery>

==Personal== Bastard was a non-smoker and teetotal. He ate sparingly, of simple foods. Every morning he exercised for ten minutes with dumbbells then took a swimming class before breakfast.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74623038 |title=Obituary |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |date=7 November 1941 |accessdate=12 December 2020 |page=11 |via=Trove}}</ref>

==Recognition== Bastard was universally honored for his devotion to teaching.. A plaque reading {{blockquote|"To commemorate the services rendered by the late Charles Bastard, lessee of the City Baths 1885-1939, who taught over 10,000 people to swim"}} was installed at the City Baths shortly after his death.

==Family== === Thomas Barnabas Bastard === Charles Bastard's parents, '''Thomas Barnabas Bastard''' (died 10 September 1883) and Elizabeth Lucy Bastard (c 1821 – 23 August 1877) immigrated to South Australia by the ''William Stuart'' in 1852, and in later years founded the Old Colonists' Association. Also on board was their son John Bastard (22 October 1843 – 17 June 1908), who would become posts and telegraph master at Port Adelaide,<ref>{{cite news |date=20 June 1908 |title=Death of Mr John Bastard |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164109913 |accessdate=13 December 2020 |newspaper=The Observer (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |page=38 |via=Trove |volume=LXV |issue=3,481}}</ref> and several other children, including one born on voyage.

Thomas Bastard was a bootmaker by trade, and was taught to swim by Captain Beckwith, father of Fred Beckwith (1821–1898). He applied his knowledge in teaching other colonists at what passed in those days for a bathing pool — a fenced-off section of the River Torrens, upstream from what is now the Morphett Street bridge.

In February 1863 Thomas Bastard made a failed attempt to form a swimming club,<ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 1863 |title=Attempt to Form a Swimming Club |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50159804 |accessdate=13 December 2020 |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=South Australia |page=3 |via=Trove |volume=XXVII |issue=5096}}</ref> but was more successful a year later, electing to serve as hon. treasurer of the South Australian Swimming Club, which he filled with conspicuous success until his death in 1883, while J. Kemp Penney took the role of secretary. Anthony Forster, MLC, whose son Anthony Yarwood Forster (1849–1874) was a fine swimmer, was offered the post of president. Thomas Charles Bastard acted as secretary 1881 to 1909.

=== Philip Stewart Bastard === Charles' brother, Philip was a champion swimmer who from 1877 managed the Baths for his father.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 May 1877 |title=Advertising |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208184947 |accessdate=12 December 2020 |newspaper=The Express and Telegraph |location=South Australia |page=1 |via=Trove |volume=XIV |issue=3,997}}</ref> He left Australia in 1880 for New Zealand<ref>{{cite news |date=5 March 1880 |title=Farewell Benefit |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30799152 |accessdate=12 December 2020 |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=South Australia |page=5 |via=Trove}}</ref> and was later in Denver City, Colorado, where he had the misfortune to be mistaken for a wanted criminal and arrested.<ref name="master" /> He may be the same person as Philip Stuart Bastard, who in 1873 became a mounted trooper in the Northern Territory,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39295140 |title=Appointments and Transfers in the Police Force |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXXVIII |issue=8261 |location=South Australia |date=9 May 1873 |accessdate=6 March 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and as Philip Stuart was licensee of the Queensland Hotel, Bourke Street, Melbourne, died in Coogee, New South Wales, in November 1920.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242491292 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Herald (Melbourne) |issue=14,125 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=22 June 1921 |accessdate=6 March 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242243001 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Herald (Melbourne) |issue=13,935 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 November 1920 |accessdate=7 March 2025 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

'''Thomas Barnabas Bastard''' ( – 10 September 1883) married Elizabeth Lucy ?? (c 1821 – 23 August 1877). Their children include: *Elizabeth Lucy Bastard (1841 – 5 February 1919) married O'Shannon *John Bastard (22 October 1843 – 17 June 1908) married Elizabeth Dench on 24 May 1864.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31837054 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |volume=VI |issue=1820 |location=South Australia |date=27 May 1864 |accessdate=19 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Their grandson Frederick John Bastard changed his surname to Baxter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60364475 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Register (Adelaide) |volume=LXXXIII |issue=22,328 |location=South Australia |date=1 June 1918 |accessdate=19 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> *Mary Ann Bastard (11 September 1845 – 14 August 1930) *Martha Bastard (15 July 1847 – 5 June 1926) married Henry Langberg in 1871 *Thomas George Bastard (March 1850 – 14 December 1918)  *Philip Stewart Bastard (4 June 1853{{efn|Born on board ''William Stewart''}} – 7 November 1920)  *'''Robert Charles Bastard''' (4 February 1863 – 6 November 1941) :*Frederick Charles Bastard (24 December 1884 – ) :*Ethel Emily Bastard (20 June 1887 – ) :*Winnifred Isabel Bastard (1890– ) :*Stanley Robert Bastard (1892– )  *Emma Bastard (10 August 1867 – 25 February 1948) married Albert Edward Eardley in 1888

== Notes and references == {{Notelist}} {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bastard, Charles}} Category:Australian swimming coaches Category:1863 births Category:1941 deaths