Sydney Pools
The city of Sydney has a lot to brag about, but its swimming pools are arguably the most unique feature. The famous Opera House and Bridge are one thing, but tucked below the city’s sandstone cliffs lie some of the most stunning ocean pools in the world. Serene at low tide, choppy at high, they are the original infinity pools. Just about every beach has one, usually positioned on the southern end to provide swimmers with protection when southerly winds blow in and seas are big. The most extensive online resource for them seems to be maintained by Marie-Louise McDermott, who wrote a dissertation on the history of them and maintains a Flickr account with lots of photos.
McDermott says the pool culture of Sydney is “remarkable”. “Ocean pools are public swimming pools situated on a surf coast so that waves can wash over them,” she writes. Typically, they are built on the foreshore with changing rooms and showers. “They are a kind of enclave for swimming and a way of protecting swimmers from dangerous surf conditions.”
Sydneysiders seem to have an inbuilt love of suburban pools. Michael Easton, a teacher from Balmain, fell in love with the sport after swimming laps at his local pool a few years ago and started trying out different watering holes around town, documenting their charms on Instagram. He says he’s now swum at about 68 pools and finds it hard to pick a favourite.
The city’s newest pool, in the south-eastern suburb of Belmore, is also getting plenty of attention. It features a lazy river and a multipurpose program pool. The lane pool has a maximum depth of 1.2m and is chemically treated, while the program pool has a shallow end suitable for babies and toddlers and a deep end that can be used for recreational diving.
Designed for community use, the new pool also has a number of features to appeal to people with disabilities and other needs. The accessible entry is a step-less ramp, the changing rooms are wheelchair-accessible and there are shaded picnic tables, as well as a barbecue area, a café and a playground.
There’s also a hydrotherapy pool, which is chemically treated and heated for comfort. The program pool can be programmed to run fitness and wellness programs, such as strength or therapeutic water exercise. It will also be available for birthday parties and other events.
It will be open from September 1 to April 30. It will then close for four months during the cooler period. It will reopen in time for summer, which is when it’s at its best. The facility is free to use, though it does cost money for programs. The council has already set a target of charging fashion week shows, production companies and private parties to help it cover costs. It will take 6.5 years from the initial design vote to when the doors open, if everything goes according to plan.