Fonty's Pool facts for kids
Fonty's Pool is a special freshwater swimming spot found near Manjimup, Western Australia. It's so important that it's listed by the National Trust of Australia as a place with historical value. People love visiting this unique pool for a swim and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
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How Fonty's Pool Began
Archie Fontanini's Dream
The story of Fonty's Pool starts with a man named Archimede "Archie" Fontanini. He came to Fremantle in Western Australia in 1904. Archie first worked at a timber sawmill for three years. Then, he decided to become a farmer near Bridgetown.
In 1907, Archie bought a large piece of land, about 460 acres (1.86 square kilometers). This area was known as "Archie's Oven Gulley." He worked hard to clear the land. He planted and grew many apples and different kinds of vegetables.
From Farm Dam to Popular Pool
Archie used water from a stream in front of his house to help his crops grow. To make the land even better, he decided to block the stream with a big log and some earth. This created a dam. He thought this would help the dirt in the water settle, making the soil more fertile.
Archie and his wife had five children. They loved swimming in the dam he had made. As the nearby towns of Manjimup and Deanmill grew, more and more children and adults started to visit the dam to swim.
At that time, Manjimup did not have a public swimming pool. People encouraged Archie to keep his dam open for everyone and charge a small fee. He agreed! Archie then worked hard to improve the dam. He cemented the walls and floor and created beautiful gardens around it. He did all this with very little help from machines.
Opening to the Public
Early Days and Celebrations
Fonty's Pool officially opened to the public in 1925. It quickly became a popular place for fun and community events. On Australia Day in 1947, a special "log chop" competition was held there. This event became a yearly tradition for eleven years, as part of the Australia Day Sports carnival.
In 1950, Archie Fontanini decided to stop farming. He wanted to spend all his time managing the pool and its gardens. Thousands of people visited Fonty's Pool every year. The swimming lessons offered there were also very popular.
A Community Hero
Archie Fontanini was recognized for his amazing work. In 1970, he received an honor from the Order of the British Empire. This award was given to him by the Queen for his important contributions to the community and to tourism.
In 1973, Archie closed the pool to the public. Managing it had become too much work for him. However, the community really missed the pool. With strong support from local people, Fonty's Pool reopened in 1979. This was a big celebration for Western Australia's 150th anniversary. The Australia Day Log Chops and Swimming Carnival were held again. About 12,000 people came to the carnival, and Archie Fontanini was there to enjoy it. He passed away in 1982.
Fonty's Pool Today
Reopening and New Beginnings
Fonty's Pool faced a challenge in 2005. It had to close because of issues with its insurance policy. Soon after, the Fontanini family sold the farm.
The new owners, with help from the National Trust of Australia, worked to reopen the pool. To meet insurance rules, they built a 300-meter fence around the pool. This allowed the beloved swimming spot to welcome visitors once more.
In 2008, the Shire of Manjimup celebrated its 100th birthday. They held a "Back to Fonty's" event on Australia Day. This celebration included fun activities like swimming races, a bathtub race, and a log chop competition.
Beyond the Pool
Part of Archie Fontanini's original farm is now home to a winery called Fonty's Pool Wines. This winery, started in 1989, is right next to the pool. Besides making wine, the 330-hectare farm also grows avocados and truffles.
Fonty's Pool is truly massive! It holds 18 million liters of water. In winter, water flows into the pool at a rate of 44,000 liters every hour. The pool itself covers almost one acre of land.
