The Great Lawn

The Great Lawn is located in the centre of Broadwater Parklands and hosts live music, public speaking, corporate events and open air screenings. The Porch is an outdoor theatre with a full stage, nearby changing rooms and a green room. It carries on the legacy of the old Pier Theatre which was once the area’s entertainment focal point. It is a favourite spot for moviegoers to watch films on the large outdoor screen or to enjoy live music performances.South of the Great Lawn, on the edge of the Broadwater, wooden shelters in the style of bathing boxes provide shaded seating. In the 19th and early 20th century, bathing boxes were dotted along the foreshore and were the forerunners of the 1930s beach pavilions. In those days the requirement for bathing was that the body be covered from neck to knee, in woollen costumes that must have been uncomfortable to wear, especially when wet. By the 1920s, like the dresses of the era, costumes had crept above the knee. Parasols protected the female complexion and were a fashion feature on the beach.