Tepid Baths facts for kids
The Tepid Baths is a popular indoor swimming pool complex. It is located in Auckland, New Zealand. The baths first opened in 1914. Before that, a small drydock was in its place. People loved the new baths right away. About 30,000 visitors came in the first two months! In 2010, the baths closed for a big renovation. They reopened in mid-2012 after two years of rebuilding.
Contents
A Dip into History
Building the Baths
The Tepid Baths were first rented from the Auckland Harbour Board. The complex has two separate pools. One was for males (25 meters long, 6 lanes). The other was for females (18 meters long, 4 lanes). The "male" pool was the biggest in New Zealand at that time.
The pools were heated using hot water. This water came from a nearby tramways power plant. This heating system was considered a very clever piece of engineering back then.
Fun and Famous Swimmers
People used the pools a lot for swimming. They enjoyed both fun swimming and competitions. Sometimes, other activities happened too. For example, in the early 1930s, a minister performed baptisms for many people in the pools.
Two local athletes worked as caretakers at the baths. One was the famous swimmer Malcolm Champion. He often swam across the harbour to his home! The other was runner Billy Savidan.
Modern Updates
In 1974, the pools changed from salt water to fresh water. This change made them easier to maintain. The building was updated again in 1986. Then, in 1997, the YMCA took over managing the baths. They added new features. These included sauna and steam rooms. A gym was also built on the upper level for YMCA members. Today, many people who work in Auckland's city center swim at the Tepid Baths before or after work.
Big Renovation and Awards
In November 2009, it was announced that the Tepid Baths would close. They needed a big restoration project. This was because the saltwater had caused some structural problems. The project was expected to cost about $12 million. People hoped the pools would reopen for their 100th birthday in 2014.
The baths closed in April 2010. The Y-Fitness Centre moved to a new building. The restoration costs ended up being around $16 million. But the pools reopened sooner than expected, in mid-2012.
In late 2012, the newly restored building won an award. It received the Public Sector Project of the Year award from the New Zealand Project Management Institute.
