The Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach are among the city’s better-known landmarks. But, not far behind in the fame stakes is its collection of sdy pools – a series of man-made public seawater swimming pools set on the surf coast so that waves wash over them. The city is home to more ocean pools than any other in the world and, with one iconic pool undergoing a much-debated upgrade, it’s an intriguing aspect of its culture to explore.
A sdy pool, or tidal pool, is a shallow, saltwater pool carved out of cliffs and filled with tidal ocean water that floods in and out. They’re often used by swimmers as a place to cool down, or for laps, and are popular with tourists, as well as locals. Many are lined with decking or surrounded by tropical vegetation. Others are a short swim from the beach and feature breathtaking views. Some are open all year round, while others are seasonal and some only operate during the summer.
Ocean pools arose out of a need for recreational and competitive swimmers to practice their skills in the presence of the sea, but also to avoid dangerous waves and sharks, says Marie-Louise McDermott, who has written extensively on them. She defines them as “shallow to medium-depth, man-made seawater pools built on a surf coast that are shaped so that waves can wash over their sides”.
In the early 1800s, convicts carved out their first ocean pools at Newcastle and other NSW coastal towns. In 1891, the NSW Amateur Swimming Association established men’s and women’s clubs, which developed into community-owned and operated swimming facilities. The clubs needed somewhere to do their laps, away from the choppy surf and the danger of shark attacks. It was also a chance for swimmers to socialise and meet up.
Today, nine in 10 Australians live within 20 minutes of a public aquatic centre. But access isn’t evenly distributed, with the western suburbs – in council areas like Parramatta, Hills Shire and Blacktown – less well served than Sydney’s inner-city areas. In Melbourne, outer suburban areas like Melton have just one aquatic centre per 177,960 residents.
But despite some frustrations from families over pool closures in the wake of COVID-19, most swimmers are still flocking to pools, albeit in smaller numbers than before. And while some say pools will have to change to survive, most aren’t rushing to upgrade them or close them. Rather, they’re working on ways to pay for them. That might include hosting fashion week shows or production companies – out of the usual realm of the pool’s remit – to bring in extra income. That, along with charging for casual swimmers, will hopefully help them recoup the millions being spent on new, modernised baths.