Crawley Baths facts for kids
The Crawley Baths was a very popular public swimming area in Perth, Western Australia. It was located in Matilda Bay, near a place called Crawley. This large timber structure opened on 7 February 1914. The Premier at the time, John Scaddan, officially opened the baths. The opening day was a big event with a swimming carnival and exciting life saving demonstrations.
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The Story of Crawley Baths
The Crawley Baths were once the biggest enclosed swimming area in the entire Southern Hemisphere! For about 50 years, they were a super important and fun place for people in Perth to swim and enjoy the water. Many children learned to swim there, and families spent sunny days by the bay.
A Popular Swimming Spot
Imagine a huge swimming pool built right over the water! That's what Crawley Baths was like. It was a safe place to swim in the river. People loved going there for swimming lessons, races, and just to cool off. It was a central part of summer fun for many generations.
Why the Baths Closed
After many years of happy memories, the Crawley Baths were taken down in 1964. This happened because a new, modern swimming pool complex called Beatty Park was built. Beatty Park was constructed for the big 1962 Commonwealth Games, which Perth hosted. With the new facilities available, the old timber baths were no longer needed.
Remembering Crawley Baths
Even though the baths are gone, a special bronze statue helps us remember them. This statue is called Eliza. You can find Eliza standing in the river, very close to where the Crawley Baths used to be. It's a reminder of the fun and history of this famous swimming spot.
See also
- Perth City Baths
External links
- See a photo of children's swimming classes at Crawley Baths from 1936
