Bottle-Up: Sydney Pools
A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria aims to “bottle-up” the smells, sounds, feel and look of a pool. It’s a timely reminder of how many pools are part of our lives and of the rich history of their design, from prosaic outdoor pools surrounded by grass and concrete (still found in so many suburbs and towns) to iconic sites like the North Sydney Pool, completed in 1936. Australians are particularly fond of our tidal ocean pools, developed as a counter to the wild and often treacherous coastline that exposes swimmers to the full force of the surf.
A favourite among locals is Bronte Baths, the iconic tidal pool at the end of the famous Bondi to Bronte coastal walk. Serene at low tide and choppy at high, the sheltered pool is the original infinity pool, offering spectacular views of the rocky cliffs and parkland. Founded in 1887, it attracts everyone from families to serious swimmers and offers changing rooms, showers and a cafe.
Another of the city’s beloved tidal pools is Coogee’s Wylie’s Baths, established in 1907 by champion long distance and underwater swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie. Set among sand dunes and with sweeping views of the beach and Wedding Cake Island, it’s one of Sydney’s most beautiful tidal pools and a popular swimming spot for visitors and locals alike.
The more modern nbdsy centre opened for the 2000 Olympics is also worth visiting, especially if you’re into swimming in a pool built for Olympic athletes and sporting heroes. Its 50-metre pool is always at that perfect jump-right-in temperature and there’s a stack of events, activities and fitness classes to get involved with.
But there are also dozens of more humble and characterful pools dotted around the city, and some even inland. Some of the oldest, including the Dawn Fraser Baths at Balmain in the inner city, are reminiscent of the more prosaic tidal pools of the past and have been beautifully maintained over the years.
Other older and more recent pools have been refurbished or rebuilt in an architectural style that pays tribute to their history. At the same time, they’re designed to be as accessible as possible, with a wheelchair lift and access ramps.
Other examples of this include the curved restaurant originally built overlooking the Centenary Pool at the University of Melbourne, which is free-flowing and organic in shape and form, and the curved escalator at the Melbourne Aquarium, which has a similar relationship with its aquatic habitat. It’s these types of creative and inventive solutions to the challenges of pool design that are keeping the tradition alive.