Spring Hill Baths facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spring Hill Baths |
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Spring Hill Baths, 2004
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| Location | 14 Torrington Street, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1886–1913 |
| Built for | Brisbane Town Council |
| Architect | Thomas Kirk |
| Owner | Brisbane City Council |
| Official name: Spring Hill Baths, City Baths, Arthur Street, Municipal Baths, Spring Hill | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600313 |
| Significant period | 1886, 1902, 1913 (fabric) 1886-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | swimming pool, changing rooms/dressing shed, residential accommodation – staff quarters |
| Builders | William M Park |
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Spring Hill Baths is a historic swimming pool located at 14 Torrington Street in Spring Hill, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Thomas Kirk and built between 1886 and 1913 by William M Park. This important building is also known as Arthur Street City Baths or Municipal Baths at Spring Hill. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992, recognizing its special history and design.
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History of Spring Hill Baths
The Spring Hill Municipal Baths were built for the Town of Brisbane in 1886. They cost £2,526, which was a lot of money back then. These baths were the city's first public swimming pool built into the ground.
They quickly became more popular than the older pools that floated in the Brisbane River. The baths also helped with hygiene in Spring Hill. They were built during a time when Brisbane was expanding its public services. This included building the second Spring Hill Reservoirs and a large drainage system.
Building the Baths
William McCallum Park, a builder from Enoggera, constructed the baths. He followed the design made by the city engineer, Thomas Kirk. The work was finished in August 1886.
The baths officially opened on the evening of 9 December 1886. It was a big event with a special ceremony. The Mayor of Brisbane, James Hipwood, took the very first plunge into the pool. The local newspaper, The Brisbane Courier, reported on the exciting opening.
The Mayor, wearing a bathing suit, jumped into the pool at 8 p.m. People cheered loudly as he took a "header" from the springboard. Other important people and swimmers followed him into the water. They all swam with great energy, surprising the crowd.
Water System and Changes Over Time
One main reason for building the baths on Arthur Street (now Torrington Street) was its location. It was above the Spring Hollow (Water Street) drain, which was installed in 1884. The used water from the baths helped clean this drain every day.
River water from Petrie Bight was pumped to a small reservoir. This reservoir was at the top end of Albert Street. From there, the water flowed downhill to Spring Hollow. It was stored in holding tanks at the far end of the baths.
Every evening, the pool was drained. Each morning, fresh water refilled it, a process that took several hours. This system of flushing the Spring Hill drain was used for 75 years.
In 1914, the city council added a salt-water supply system. The baths were connected to this new system. As the Brisbane River became more polluted, chemicals were added to the pool water. Finally, a filtration system was installed in 1961 to keep the water clean.
Updates and Milestones
In 1902, a gallery and a diving platform were added. These were built at the western end of the baths. Some changing rooms had to be moved for this. They were put back in 1913 when the gallery was made bigger. It then went around three sides of the pool.
Also in 1913, a roof-like structure called an awning was put over the front entrance. The current club room was added later. In 1962, a men's toilet block was built. The caretaker's living area was also made larger.
Until 1926, the Spring Hill Baths were the main place for competitive swimming in Queensland. This included school and amateur swimming events. In 1927, it became one of the first pools in Australia to allow mixed bathing. This meant both men and women could swim together. It is still one of the oldest pools in use today. In recent years, the club room has even been used as an art gallery. The pool has also hosted community theatre.
What Spring Hill Baths Looks Like
The Spring Hill Baths building has two floors and is made of brick covered in plaster. It has a sloped roof made of corrugated galvanised iron supported by steel beams. The front of the building faces the street. It has a flat, decorative wall at the top.
Inside, there's a large swimming hall with a concrete pool. The pool is about 23.5 meters long and 9.1 meters wide. Around the pool, there's a wooden balcony (gallery) with 57 changing rooms. A two-story home for the caretaker is at the eastern end of the building. Along the northern side, there's a single-story clubroom made of weatherboard and concrete block toilets.
Inside the Swimming Hall
Lightweight steel beams stretch across the entire width of the swimming hall. They rest on brick supports built into the walls. The roof has been replaced. While the original roof covered the whole hall, a large part of the roof is now open to the sky. The steel beams that hold up the roof seem to be the original ones.
Square wooden posts support the wooden railing and the tiered wooden seating area (gallery). This creates a covered walkway around the pool. You can still see old signs on the wood, like "Ladies Only This Side" and "Gents Only This Side." A foundation stone is set into the concrete at the north-eastern corner of the pool.
The Street View
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The front of the building, facing the street, looks very grand. It stands out among the houses. It has a balanced design with arched windows and doorways. There's a simple decorative wall at the top and a triangular section called a pediment. On the pediment, you can see the date 1886 and the words "Municipal Public Baths" and "James Hipwood Mayor." The facade is decorated with stone urns and plaster flower designs. A corrugated iron roof, supported by wooden frames and brackets, covers the street entrance.
Even with a modern filtration system and new toilets, the baths still look very much like they did when they were first built. Their original shape, structure, and inside details are still there.
Why Spring Hill Baths is Special
Spring Hill Baths was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site. Here's why:
Showing Queensland's History
The baths are important because they show how Queensland's history has changed. They played a new role in improving public health in Brisbane. This included using the bath water to help clean the Spring Hollow drainage system every day.
A Rare Part of Our Heritage
Spring Hill Baths is a rare example of Queensland's cultural heritage. It was Brisbane's first public swimming pool built into the ground. It is also still mostly complete, showing what public swimming baths looked like in the late 1800s. This includes its old changing rooms.
A Great Example of Old Baths
The baths show the main features of public swimming pools from the late 19th century. It's a good example of how these places were designed and used back then.
Beautiful and Important to the Community
The Spring Hill Baths building adds to the beauty of Torrington Street and the Spring Hill area. Its design is valued by the community.
Strong Community Connection
Since the 1880s, Spring Hill Baths has had a strong connection with the Brisbane community. It has been a key place for competitive swimming, learning to swim, and local recreation for many years.
