Day: February 16, 2025

Sydney’s famous opera house and bridge might have it on the tourist map, but one of the city’s lesser-known claims to fame is that it has more ocean pools – also known as tidal or rock pools – than any other in the world. Often found at surf beaches where a public swimming enclosure would be impractical or unsafe, these iconic watery landmarks are cherished by locals and adored by visitors. But when one beloved pool gets a much-debated upgrade, the resulting controversy highlights a deeper concern over how the iconic swimming spots are managed.

Designed to allow swimmers to escape the pounding surf without having to leave the beach, sdy pools are unique in Australia for being built into the inter-tidal zone and carved out of rock platforms. This makes them ideal for those who aren’t quite ready to brave the choppy surf and provides safe swimming spots for swimmers of all ages and abilities. But they’re not without their challenges. Some are prone to eutrophication, which can lead to a buildup of nitrogen and phosphorous in the water. This can lead to an abundance of algae and reduce the amount of natural light that enters the water, leading to unhealthy conditions. Other pools are a magnet for jellyfish, which can wash in with the tide and terrorise swimmers. And in the case of Bilgola’s sea pool, the early-20th-century willingness to dynamite rocks and destroy habitats for a clean slate of concrete might not pass environmental tests today. At nearby Fairy Bower, marine scientists are recreating the homes of tiny creatures that were displaced by the construction.

Aside from the environmental concerns, many sdy pools are a popular destination for locals looking to escape busy beaches. This is particularly true of Coogee Baths, which was built in 1907 for champion long-distance and underwater swimmer Henry Wylie. Another Coogee beauty is McIver’s Ladies Baths, which remains the only ocean pool in the world dedicated to women and children and dates back to the 1880s.

At the other end of the spectrum, Sydney’s western suburbs are among the worst-served in terms of public aquatic centres. The western city of Melton, for example, has only one publicly accessible aquatic centre per 178,960 residents, according to an analysis by Guardian Australia. And the situation is far worse across Australia. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates there are only one public aquatic centre for every 40,000 people in regional New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland.

While many Australians cherish their private swimming pools, the public variety is an important part of our culture. It’s where most of us learn to swim and it provides a welcome respite from the summer heat. Whether you’re planning to install your own backyard oasis or just want to soak up the atmosphere of the city’s sdy pools, here are some ways to make your experience a little more comfortable.

Before hiring a custom pool builder, determine how you’ll use your new swimming space. This will help you narrow your search in the Professionals section of Houzz to Sydney pool builders who share your aesthetic.

A sidney prize is a literary award given to an author or journalist for outstanding work. Prizes may be awarded monthly, or for a period of time, such as a year. Many prizes are established by universities, and are often based on bequests. Most require an application and a submission of written work, including essays, poems, or plays. The submissions are usually submitted under a pseudonym. Occasionally, prizes are awarded to people who have already won other awards for their work, such as a Nobel Prize.

The Sydney Prize is a monthly prize for journalism that exposes social and economic injustices. The winner receives a US$10,000 honorarium and a certificate designed by New Yorker cartoonist Edward Sorel. The prize is funded by the philanthropy of Sir William and Lady Sidney, and is administered by the Center for Global Media Studies at the University of Sydney. Nominations are due by the end of each month, and the prize is announced on the second Wednesday of the following month.

The first Sidney prize was awarded in 1946 to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, a predecessor of Unite Here and Workers United. It was given for writing that illuminated the great issues of the day, including the search for a basis for lasting peace and the fight for housing, medical care, employment security, civil liberties, and democracy. The foundation has continued to offer this prize, now called the Hillman Prize, and has added categories for photojournalism and opinions and analysis. The foundation is led by left-leaning labor union leader and former president emeritus of Workers United Bruce Raynor.

This year’s Sidney prize was won by an essay in the New York Times that criticized student hypersensitivity to microaggressions, which can lead to depression and a lack of preparation for the real world. The essay, by Helen Andrews, described how she was subjected to a shaming online tirade after she took part in a panel discussion about conservatism. The piece was a contender for the Pulitzer Prize and the Sidney prize, which is given by New York Times columnist David Brooks.

The Sidney Cox Memorial Prize is a writing prize offered annually for undergraduate students. It is named in memory of the distinguished Sidney Cox, a member of the department from 1961 to 1985. Originally trained in literature, he made his mark in the field of art history by editing two benchmark publications: Art in Society and The Nature of Art.

The 2024 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize was won by Annie Zhang for her story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’. Zhang is a writer and editor living on unceded Wangal land, who has previously been published in Overland. She will receive $5000 and the story will be published in Overland, with two runners-up receiving $750 each. The winning entry was chosen by a judging panel that included Patrick Lenton, Alice Bishop and Sara Saleh. The finalists were selected from a shortlist of eight.