Ocean pools in Australia

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Ocean pools are an important feature of the Australian coastline particularly in New South Wales. Ocean pools or ocean baths are defined as public seawater pools sited on a rocky surf coast, so that waves can wash into the pool. The width, length and depth of ocean pools varies and often depends on their location on the coastline. Australia also has many harbour pools and these are usually netted or fenced and located in harbours or river mouths but not regarded as ocean pools.

History

File:Bogey Hole in Newcastle.jpg in Newcastle]]

Ocean pools date back to the convict era in Australia with Newcastle's Bogey Hole being constructed in 1819 by convicts under the orders of Commandant James Morisset.{{cite news |last1=Keene|first1=Neil |title=Top 10 ocean pools in Sydney and NSW |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/travel/australia/top-10-ocean-pools-in-sydney-and-nsw/story-fnjjv02f-1226803234018 |access-date=13 July 2015 |work=Sunday Telegraph |date=18 January 2014}} Construction of ocean pools was generally through community subscriptions or government funded. Two ocean pools were privately built: the Pearl Beach Rock Pool, near Gosford, New South Wales was constructed by a real estate developer in the 1920s to help sell land, and Wylie's Baths in Coogee, New South Wales by entrepreneur Henry Wylie and his sons.{{cite news |title=Swim between the rocks |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/new-south-wales/swim-between-the-rocks/2008/02/28/1203788502474.html?page=fullpage |access-date=13 July 2015 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 March 2008}}

Image:Bondi icebergs.jpg|207x207px]]

Several ocean pools were once reserved only for the use of men or only for use by women and children and Sydney's Coogee Bay still hosts an ocean pool reserved solely for the use of women and children. Coogee's McIver's Baths constructed in the 1860s seems to now be the only seawater pool in Australia still reserved solely for use by women and children.{{cite web |title=Sydney's outdoor pools |url=http://www.sydney.com/things-to-do/beach-lifestyle/sydneys-outdoor-pools |website=Destination New South Wales |access-date=13 July 2015}} Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie, who won gold and silver medals in the Women's 100m Freestyle at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics trained at this pool.{{cite web |title=Australia's modern swimmers and ocean baths |url=http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/australias-modern-swimmers |website=Australia.gov.au |access-date=13 July 2015}} The Beverley Whitfield Pool in Shellharbour is named after another of Australia's Olympic swimmers.

Wylie's Baths established in 1907 at Coogee, New South Wales, by Henry Alexander Wylie, the father of Mina Wylie, was one of the first mixed gender ocean pools in Australia.

File:Swimming exams at Newcastle Ocean Baths, 11-12-1953, by Sam Hood (5205053387).jpg

There are about 100 ocean pools in New South Wales. In Perth, Western Australia there has been impetus to build ocean pools as a result of shark attacks.{{cite news |title=Ocean pool plan shapes up |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/23004035/ocean-pool-plan-shapes-up/ |access-date=14 July 2015 |work=West Australian |date=27 April 2014}}

List of ocean pools

class="wikitable sortable"
NameLocation

!Constructed

!Opened

!Length

Comments
East Ballina Children's PoolBallina, New South Wales

|

|

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Yamba Rock PoolYamba, New South Wales

|

|1969

|33 m

Sawtell Memorial Rock PoolSawtell, New South Wales

|

|1962

|

Black Head Rock PoolHallidays Point, New South Wales

|

|1941

|100 feet

{{cite web |title=Sea eagles, Dad's Army and the Black Head Rock Pool |url=http://swimmingpoolstories.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/sea-eagles-dads-army-and-black-head.html |website=Swimming Pool Stories |access-date=13 July 2015 |date=2013-01-11}}
Forster Ocean BathsForster, New South Wales

|

|1936

|56 m along the northern wall (rear wall), 50 m along the eastern wall and 69 m along the western wall.

Soldiers BathsNewcastle, New South Wales

|

|1883 {{cite web |title=Ocean baths |url=https://www.visitnewcastle.com.au/see-do/things-to-do/newcastle-ocean-baths |website=Visit Newcastle |access-date=2 November 2024}}

|180 yards oval

Square HoleNewcastle, New South Wales

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|

|

Newcastle Ocean BathsNewcastle, New South Wales

|

|1922

|91.44x45.72 m

Canoe Pool|Newcastle, New South Wales

|

|1937

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The Ladies BathNewcastle, New South Wales

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Bogey HoleNewcastle, New South Wales

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|1819

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Bar Beach Rock PoolNewcastle, New South Wales

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Old Merewether BathsNewcastle, New South Wales

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Merewether Ocean BathsNewcastle, New South Wales

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|1935

|110x90 yards

Norah Head PoolNorah Head, New South Wales

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The Entrance Ocean BathsThe Entrance, New South Wales

|1938-1965 (multiple modifications) {{Cite web |title=Entrance Ocean Pools, The {{!}} Heritage NSW |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5053929 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=apps.environment.nsw.gov.au}}

|1938

|50m

Additional children's pool.{{cite web|title=The Entrance Ocean Baths - The Entrance|url=http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/central-coast/wyong-area/the-entrance/attractions/the-entrance-ocean-pools|website=Destination NSW|accessdate=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410230740/http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/central-coast/wyong-area/the-entrance/attractions/the-entrance-ocean-pools|archive-date=10 April 2016|url-status=dead}}
Terrigal Rock PoolTerrigal, New South Wales

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Avoca Beach Rock PoolAvoca Beach, New South Wales

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Mavis PoolCopacabana, New South Wales

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MacMasters Beach Rock PoolMacMasters Beach, New South Wales

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Killcare - Putty Beach Rock PoolKillcare, New South Wales

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Umina Beach (site)Umina, New South Wales

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Pearl Beach Rock PoolPearl Beach, New South Wales

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Palm Beach Rock PoolPalm Beach, New South Wales

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|

|50m {{cite web |title=Sydney Ocean Pools and Inner Harbour Baths |url=http://sydneymovingguide.com/sydney-ocean-pools-inner-harbour-baths/ |accessdate=14 July 2015 |website=Sydney Moving Guide}}

Whale Beach Rock PoolWhale Beach, New South Wales

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|

|25 m

Avalon Rock PoolAvalon, New South Wales

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Bilgola Rock PoolBilgola Beach, New South Wales

|

|

|50m

Northern Headlands Rock Pool (site)Newport, New South Wales

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Newport Rock PoolNewport, New South Wales

|

|

| 50m

Length .
Mona Vale Rock PoolMona Vale, New South Wales

|

|

| 30m

Length 30 m. Also small children's pool.
North Narrabeen Rock PoolNorth Narrabeen, New South Wales

|

|

| 50m

Length 50 m.
Collaroy Rock PoolCollaroy, New South Wales

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Dee Why Rock PoolDee Why, New South Wales

|

|

| 50m

Length 50 m.
North Curl Curl Rock PoolNorth Curl Curl, New South Wales

|

|

| 25m

Length 25 m.
South Curl Curl Rock PoolCurl Curl, New South Wales

|

|

| 50m

Length 50 m.
Freshwater Rock PoolFreshwater, New South Wales

|

|

| 50m

Length 50 m.
Queenscliff Rock PoolQueenscliff, New South Wales

|1937 {{cite news |last1=Cross |first1=Julie |date=16 October 2014 |title=Keen swimmers have long wait to swim in Queenscliff heritage pool |work=Daily Telegraph Northern Edition |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/keen-swimmers-have-long-wait-to-swim-in-queenscliff-heritage-pool/story-fngr8hax-1227091644038 |accessdate=13 July 2015}}

|

| 50m

Constructed in 1937. Length 50 m.
Fairy Bower PoolManly, New South Wales

|1929 {{cite web |title=Fairy Bower Rock Pool Manly |url=http://www.seanasmith.com/fairy-bower-rock-pool-manly-sydney/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713124603/http://www.seanasmith.com/fairy-bower-rock-pool-manly-sydney/ |archive-date=13 July 2015 |accessdate=13 July 2015 |website=Seanasmith.com}}

|

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Wally Weakes PoolNorth Bondi, New South Wales

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Children's PoolNorth Bondi, New South Wales

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Bondi Icebergs PoolBondi, New South Wales

|1887 {{cite news |last1=Spruhan |first1=Therese |date=8 September 2014 |title=Into the deep of Sydney's ocean pools |work=The Australian}}

|

|

Bronte Bogey HoleBronte, New South Wales

|1916

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Geoff James Pool (Clovelly Baths)Clovelly, New South Wales

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Giles BathsCoogee, New South Wales

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Ross Jones Memorial Pool (Coogee Beach Pool)Coogee, New South Wales

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McIvers Baths (Coogee Women's Pool)Coogee, New South Wales

|1886

|

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Wylie's BathsCoogee, New South Wales

|1907

|

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Ivo Rowe PoolSouth Coogee, New South Wales

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Mahon PoolMaroubra, New South Wales

|1932

|

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South Maroubra Rock PoolsMaroubra, New South Wales

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Malabar PoolMalabar, New South Wales

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Little Bay PoolLittle Bay, New South Wales

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Northernmost PoolCronulla, New South Wales

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Children's PoolCronulla, New South Wales

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Main Ocean PoolCronulla, New South Wales

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Shelly Beach PoolCronulla, New South Wales

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Oak Park PoolCronulla, New South Wales

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Bulgo PoolOtford, New South Wales

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Big Marley Rock PoolRoyal National Park, New South Wales
Coalcliff PoolCoalcliff, New South Wales

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Clifton Baths (site)Clifton, New South Wales

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Doctors Pool (site)Wollongong, New South Wales

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Scarborough Baths (site)Wollongong, New South Wales

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Wombara BathsWollongong, New South Wales

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Coledale BathsWollongong, New South Wales

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Little Austinmer Children's PoolWollongong, New South Wales

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Old Thirroul Baths (site)Wollongong, New South Wales

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Collins Point Baths - Woonona PoolWollongong, New South Wales

|

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| 50m

Bellambi PoolWollongong, New South Wales

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Towradgi PoolWollongong, New South Wales

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Bulli pool, Peggy's rocks bulli 50 metres and children's pool

|Wollongong Rock Pool

Wollongong, New South Wales

|

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Wollongong Continental BathsWollongong, New South Wales

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Wollongong Nuns PoolWollongong, New South Wales

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Wollongong Ladies Baths (site)Wollongong, New South Wales

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Fishermens Beach Rock Pool (site)Port Kembla, New South Wales

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Barrack Point Pool (site)Barrack Point, New South Wales

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Beverley Whitfield PoolShellharbour, New South Wales

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Pheasant Point PoolKiama, New South Wales

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Blowhole Point PoolKiama, New South Wales

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Werri Beach PoolGerringong, New South Wales

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Men's Baths (site)Gerringong, New South Wales

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Currarong PoolsCurrarong, New South Wales

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Mollymook Bogey HoleMollymook, New South Wales

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Ulladulla Sea PoolUlladulla, New South Wales

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Horseshoe Bay Pool (site)Bermagui, New South Wales

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Blue PoolBermagui, New South Wales

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Zane Grey Pool (site)Bermagui, New South Wales

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Cape Paterson Rock PoolCape Paterson, Victoria

|1960s

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Anastasia's PoolBroome, Western Australia

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Mettams PoolTrigg, Western Australia

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Rainbow beach PoolCoolangatta, Queensland

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Hammersley PoolNorth Beach, Western Australia

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Kings Beach PoolCaloundra, Queensland

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Aslings Beach Rock Pool

|Eden, New South Wales

|1961

|

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Marrinawi Cove

|Sydney, New South Wales

|

|9th of January 2023

|

|Constructed as part of the Barangaroo Headland redevelopment which opened 22nd August 2015. {{Cite news |date=2015-08-22 |title=Sydney's Barangaroo Reserve 'open to the world': Premier |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-22/mike-baird-declares-sydneys-barangaroo-reserve-open-to-the-world/6716998 |access-date=2023-02-09}} It was not legal to swim in until the 9th of January 2023 {{Cite news |date=2023-01-09 |title=New harbour swimming spot opens next to Sydney CBD |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-09/marrinawi-cove-barangaroo-swimming-spot-opens-to-public/101836258 |access-date=2023-02-09}}

References

{{reflist}}

Bibliography

  • [http://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/517 McDermott, Marie-Louise. Wet, wild and convivial: past, present and future contributions of Australia’s ocean pools to surf, beach, pool and body cultures and recreational coasts. PhD, Edith Cowan University, 2012]
  • [http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/ocean_baths McDermott, Marie-Louise. Ocean baths. Dictionary of Sydney, 2011]