Cool Cabanas: How beach tent sparked turf war in Australia

For years, a controversial invader has been steadily taking up Australia’s beloved seashores.

Swallowing up the sand, blocking ocean views and turning the shore into an irksome maze, is a sea of enormous seashore tents, known as cabanas in Australia.

“It is chockers [crowded]. They’re far and wide,” Sydneysider Claire, 30, advised the PJDM.

For her – and most Australians – cooling off on a sweltering day means a strong drive to the coast, plus an eternity looking for a parking area. Now, the cabana craze means there’s one other battle ready for them on the seashore.

Polyester covers flap within the breeze so far as the attention can see. Some are empty, arrange on the break of day after which deserted for hours on finish, till the homeowners really wish to use them.

“The sheer quantity of area that persons are taking over… [when] you are simply looking for a free sq. inch of sand to put your towel, it could simply be slightly bit irritating,” Claire says.

She’s not alone in her irritation. A number of summers of simmering stress has, within the first days of 2025, exploded right into a full-on turf warfare, sparking debate about Australian tradition and seashore etiquette.

A row over the suitable use of cabanas has dominated social media, spawned a wave of opinion items and tv segments, and even dragged within the prime minister.

Self-described haters say entitled cabana crews are hogging public area and disrespecting different beachgoers.

“Once you’re… polluting the seashore along with your 4 cabanas subsequent to one another, the place is Guncle [Gay Uncle] Nic going to go,” anti-cabana crusader and TikToker Nic Salerno stated on TV discuss present The Challenge.

“I simply need my area on the seashore, guys.”

However the pro-cabana mob say in search of safety from Australia’s vicious solar is not a criminal offense – and it is each man for himself.

Australia is the pores and skin most cancers capital of the world, and plenty of supporters – together with nationwide charity, the Most cancers Council – argue the brand new development ought to really be celebrated.

“My companion and I’ve a cool cabana as a result of we each burn extraordinarily simply and we do not wish to die of pores and skin most cancers by 30, hope this helps,” one particular person wrote, responding to a TikTok rant.

Nobody is discounting the significance of solar security, the cabana critics counter, however they are saying that is only a handy excuse for most of the folks utilizing the seashore tents.

Half the time they don’t seem to be even sitting below the shade covers, they declare, and there is no want for 2 folks to whip out a complete tent for an hour or two, when solar cream and a hat will just do high-quality.

Different cabana devotees are extra ahead about their motivations. Breakfast tv presenter Davina Smith admitted that for her, it’s about nabbing “the prime piece of actual property” on busy seashores.

She is among the individuals who pitch their cabana castles within the early morning to order territory for her household later that day.

“There’s quite a lot of analysis that goes into this. You stand up early, you have to watch the tides. You possibly can’t simply plonk it there and stroll away… you put money into it,” Smith argued on 9’s In the present day programme.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the many hordes irked by the development: “That is not on,” he advised the identical present.

“One of many nice issues about Australia, not like some elements of the world, you go and you bought to pay to go to the seashore. Right here, everybody owns the seashore… And that is a breach of that precept, actually.”

Even lifeguards have opinions on the matter, with some telling local media the cabana camps can make it hard for them to do their jobs.

There are a selection of cultural quirks which imply Cabanagate has Australians extra labored up than a magpie in spring.

Firstly, the nation loves to think about itself as an egalitarian society – the land of a “truthful go” – and that extends to the usage of considered one of its most treasured nationwide property.

“Australian seashores, they at all times have been seen as shared areas, democratic areas the place social hierarchies dissolve…. [they’re] seen as an important equaliser,” says Ece Kaya, a researcher on the College of Know-how Sydney.

And Australians are “fiercely” protecting of that ideally suited: “They see it as a birthright,” says Chris Pepin-Neff, who research Australian seashore tradition.

They level to the backlash in 1929 when beachgoers at Sydney’s Coogee Seaside had been compelled to pay for entry to the one a part of the water lined by shark nets. Extra not too long ago, a bid to hire out a part of Sydney’s well-known Bondi Seaside to an unique seashore membership was met with an enormous outcry.

And whereas the usage of sprawling cabanas is a comparatively new phenomenon, there’s lengthy been “monumental class stress” round the usage of the nation’s shoreline, Dr Pepin-Neff provides.

An absence of infrastructure, reasonably priced housing and group attitudes are inclined to lock odd Australians out of waterfront areas, whereas these pure property are sometimes monopolised by these fortunate sufficient to dwell there.

“And there is a notion that it is encroaching even additional, [so] that a median household cannot even get a spot on the seashore.”

However they are saying there is no actual knowledge on who’s utilizing cabanas and why. In addition they argue there’s many good causes folks would possibly use them. Perhaps they’ve travelled a great distance so that they plan to remain on the seashore longer, or they could have a incapacity or younger kids they should cater for, he says.

“There’s a stability between a free and open seashore that everyone can use, and ensuring that you just’re respectful.”

They provide no defence for the “land bankers” although: “As a Sydneysider, I feel that’s abusing the privilege… that isn’t a good go.”

As the talk intensifies although, there are some requires a truce to revive the peace to Australian shores.

Beachkit Australia founder Rowan Clark, who sells tools together with cabanas, advised the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper even he thinks cabana lovers ought to be extra courteous.

“They need to solely enable arrange on the rear of the seashore in a line,” he stated. “As soon as that is exhausted, then no extra of this fashion of shade ought to be allowed.”

Others need authorities to rein it in, like some have in america. There are options councils may restrict what number of cabanas could be arrange on their seashores, and the place.

However Sydney resident Claire, for all her wrath, worries that this might tip the scales within the different route and exclude different folks from utilizing the seashore.

“You do not wish to get too treasured about it, clearly… it is simply the seashore, first world issues proper?

“I feel usually, we must always simply attempt to be thoughtful of each other.”