Each day before dawn, before surfers and soft sand runners, pilgrims clutching towels and goggles make their way through spray to patches of the ocean that have been tamed by cliffs and rock. In these pools, sheltered from the pounding waves, people swim and float, or just sit, drawn by the same beauty that has attracted artists for generations.
But with a changing climate and the threat of rising sea levels, Sydney’s iconic beach pools are at risk. The city hasn’t built a new ocean pool since the 1960s, and now the focus is on preserving and protecting these ancient structures.
The city is working with a design firm to develop a floating swimming pool on the Glebe foreshore, designed by Andrew Burges Architects, that would offer swimmers an alternative to getting in and out of the water at the beach, which can be dangerous for young children and older people. The idea is to provide people with a safe place to enjoy the water, while also reviving an under-used section of the waterfront.
A few hours south, at Balmain’s cliff-bound Elkington Park baths, there is Victorian elegance in the form of corrugated iron and painted cream and green pavilions. The baths were built in 1883, renamed after an Olympic champion long-distance swimmer in 1905, and are one of the oldest Sydney pools still operating.
Further north, the Coogee rock pool has become an icon in its own right. Known as Wylie’s Baths after the founder, Henry Alexander Wylie, a champion swimmer himself, this beautiful tidal pool offers raised decking that blends into the sandstone cliffs and sweeping views across the ocean to Wedding Cake Island and beyond. It’s the only such pool in the world that is open to women and children.
But the old-fashioned willingness to dynamite rocks, destroy habitats and build clean concrete walls wouldn’t pass environmental tests today, and at many pools scientists are working to mitigate the damage. At Fairy Bower, next to Cabbage Tree Bay aquatic reserve in Manly, for instance, scientists are restoring homes for tiny creatures that were displaced by the pool’s walls.
The pool also has a rich history as a venue for social events, including political rallies and fundraising campaigns. A famous speech by Winston Churchill in support of the Australian troops in WWII was delivered here. It’s also where a crowd of 5,000 turned up to celebrate the birth of Princess Elizabeth in 1982.
Whether you want to relax in your own private pool, or entertain friends and family with an alfresco kitchen and dining area complete with pergola, the expert Sydney pool builders, landscapers and other outdoor professionals featured on this site can help. Browse their profiles for landscaping and swimming pool design ideas, then head into the Pool + Spa Interiors chapter to select your perfect pool interior – from mosaic tiled interiors to shimmering glass pebbles and ceramic options.
For more information, contact the listed specialists directly. They are eager to discuss your project, and to answer any questions you may have about their services.