Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | Glassop Street, Balmain, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1882–1924 |
| Owner | Inner West Council |
| Official name: Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool; Elkington Park Baths; Balmain Baths; Corporation Baths; Whitehorse Point Baths | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 June 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1398 |
| Type | Swimming Pool - inground built |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
| Builders | James Reynolds |
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The Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool is a special swimming spot in Balmain, Sydney, Australia. It's known for its history and unique design. This pool is located on Glassop Street and was first built in 1882 by James Reynolds. It was made bigger in 1924.
Over the years, this pool has had many names, like Elkington Park Baths, Balmain Baths, and Whitehorse Point Baths. Today, it's owned by the Inner West Council. Because of its importance, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on June 23, 2000.
Contents
A Dip into History
How the Pool Started
In 1880, the Balmain Council bought land at White Horse Point to build public baths. James Reynolds was chosen to build them in 1881. By January 1882, the baths were open for swimming! At first, they were open to men during the day and to women at certain times.
The Balmain Swimming Club
The Balmain Swimming Club started in 1884, soon after the baths opened. This club was the first of its kind in Australia to celebrate 100 years! Many swimmers from this club became famous in swimming, water polo, diving, and life-saving.
Growing Bigger and Better
In 1902, the original pool area was replaced with a wider one, thanks to the swimming club. They also added a two-storey building for changing and watching races. Two wooden walkways were built, stretching out from the shore. In 1904, a small house was built nearby for the pool manager.
The baths were made even larger in 1924. More changes included a new changing building and a grandstand for spectators. They also added two springboards and a diving tower. Famous swimmers like Tony Fenech, Frank Jordan, and Dawn Fraser all swam here. More repairs and changes happened in the 1950s and 1960s.
Renamed for a Champion
In 1964, the pool was renamed to honor Dawn Fraser. She was a local hero and an Olympic Swimming Champion. Dawn Fraser won gold medals at three Olympic Games in a row! She learned to swim at these very baths when she was young. She swam with local clubs from age 8 to 13 and won championships.
Modern Updates
In 1983, the pool complex was updated. Many parts of the buildings were replaced. The outside walls were changed from metal to wood. This helped keep the pool looking great for future swimmers.
What the Pool Looks Like
The Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool has a unique, uneven shape. It's surrounded by a timber structure that sits on wooden poles over the water. The main swimming area is almost square. One side curves to follow the shoreline. In one corner, there's a smaller, wedge-shaped pool for children.
The entrance to the baths has a short tower. This tower separates two timber buildings that follow the curve of the shore. These buildings hold the changing rooms for men and women, and the pool office. The buildings on the harbor side are home to the Balmain Swimming Club. They have changing rooms and a tiered stand where people can watch races. The room in the tower keeps the swimming club's old records, which go all the way back to 1884!
Around the pool, there's a wooden deck. People use it to walk around, watch swimming, or sunbathe. When the tide is low, a small sandy beach appears next to the entrance.
Nearby, in Elkington Park, you can find a brick cottage. This is where the manager of the baths lives.
Why This Pool is Special
The Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool is a very important place. It's a complete swimming complex that dates back to the early 1900s. It shows a type of pool building that isn't done anymore. It's also a well-known landmark in Sydney, sitting beautifully by the harbor.
This pool tells us about how popular swimming became in Australia, both for fun and for competitions. It's connected to famous swimmers and world champions, especially Dawn Fraser. It's also special because it's one of the few tidal public pools left in Sydney Harbour. It's the only one that still has its original over-water structure.
The pool is also very important to the local community. It's a place for recreation and the home of the Balmain Swimming Club, which might be the oldest swimming club in Australia!
