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The Beach

Sand castle on beach - Lakes Entrance, NSW

Centred in the foreground and framed by a large gathering of people, this quite simply designed and relatively unadorned sandcastle is probably the most salient element in the image.

In this conceptual image everyone appears happy to pose for the camera, as shown by the many participants straining sideways to be included in frame. The viewer may also be struck by the incongruity between the beach setting and the clothing worn by the sea of people gathered there. With the exception of the two men who are positioned at the upper corners of the sand castle, most members of the crowd do not (considering contemporary dress codes) appear to be dressed appropriately.

We may assume that the two men in their 'cozzies', who are positioned near the sandcastle, are its creators: they are both literally behind the construction and dressed to actively interact with the sandy setting. Between these two men and standing above the sandcastle, a man and woman are distinguished not only by their position in the frame but also by their clothing, which appears to be more formal than others in the surrounding crowd. Given their position in the frame, combined with the formality of their clothes, we may consider their participation in this scene as judges and the sandcastle as an entry in a sand modelling competition.

This image represents a popular beach activity at a time when beach culture was emerging in Australia. As realised in this image, it is a pastime which many people find pleasurable, both as participants and onlookers, and the beach remains embedded within Australian culture, not only as child's play. Each summer at many of the thousands of Australian beaches, Australians will continue build their castles in the sand.

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