The Sydney harbour bridge, Opera House and Bondi beach are just some of the city’s iconic landmarks. But one lesser-known fact is that it’s home to more ocean pools than any other city in the world, according to research by anthropologist and historian Marie-Louise McDermott. The coastal swim spots are a little-known gem, popular with locals and visitors alike. They’re carved into cliffs and reefs, or hinged off the edge of the sand like Narrabeen’s skewed rectangles. Some, like Wylies Baths, feature timber platforms jutting out into the surf and others are spectacularly curved like at Collaroy.
They’re also a key part of the city’s outdoor swimming culture, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people flocked to ocean pools to keep up their fitness while stuck at home. And while the city’s famous beaches are still popular, the pools are an essential part of keeping locals and tourists refreshed and hydrated.
While many of these pools are free, some have entrance fees or require a pass from the City of Sydney. But there are plenty of other options, including the Sydney Olympic Park Pool and Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Surry Hills. The city’s annual summer open day also gives free access to 6 of the city’s best pools, as well as a raft of in-centre events and activities.
The year was 1960: John F Kennedy was elected president, Chubby Checker started a dance craze with his hit song the Twist and Sydney’s new outdoor pool opened to the public. Six decades later, it’s keeping residents cool and helping kids learn to swim.
It’s the kind of place where, as KMA News reports, children and adults meet to relax and let go of their weekday stresses. Rhonda Ocander, the manager of the pool in western Sydney’s Mount Druitt, says it’s more than just a swimming pool. “We’ve got a lot of families here, but it’s also where you can come and just let the stress just drop away,” she says.
But not every pool is a success story. The iconic Bondi pool is a case in point. Its troubles began with a $10 million grant from the federal government for women’s swimming, which Tink Baker claims pushed the project up a gear and added to its already ballooning cost. The original $58 million project blew out to $89 million, the ETA was pushed back to April 2024 and the design had to be revised.
But despite the setbacks, the pool is now on track for completion in late 2024. It’s been 6.5 years from the moment councillors voted to approve its design to when it will finally be ready to open. The wait is likely to be worth it, as it’s sure to attract thousands of swimmers looking for an alternative to the ocean’s harsher conditions.