History of the Hamam
One of our intentions has been to combine the best of global hot spring and spa cultures with the unique natural environment of our region on the Mornington Peninsula.
The Turkish bath or Hamam, an Arabic word meaning 'spreader of warmth', is a symbol of the East and the very long and rich culture of bathing of the Romans, Ottomans, Persians and Arabs. Turkey and particularly Istanbul, with feet in both the West (Europe) and the East, is a symbol of crossing over a cultural divide. The Turkish bath provides a spa and bathing experience that wraps up relaxation, peace and harmony within a cultural journey.
Watch our one minute video showing the creation of the Hamam and enjoyment of this traditional Turkish ritual or download our How to use the Turkish Steam Bath (Hamam) factsheet.
Peninsula Hot Springs' research into the Hamam bathing experience included trips to Turkey in 1984, Yemen and Egypt in 1998 and Turkey again in 2010. These trips provided valuable knowledge and understanding of the ways of the bath which has helped weave this experience into the broader global cultural hot springs and spa bathing offerings available at Peninsula Hot Springs.
A research trip to Turkey in May 2010 included a visit to the town of Bursa and a Turkish bathing experience. A rare video of the inside of the men's bath at the Eski Kaplica hamam (pictured above) shows various traditional scrubbing and massaging techniques.
Other cultural influences and experiences from around the globe that are available at Peninsula Hot Springs include Swedish saunas, Russian cold plunge pools, a Japanese cave pool and reflexology walk, American watsu pool, Nepalese massaging thermal shower and LI'TYA massage and spa treatments using Aboriginal massage and healing techniques.
How to use the Hamam