The famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are well-known landmarks, but what is less appreciated is that the city has more ocean pools – man-made public seawater pools cut into the base of cliffs at the edge of beaches – than any other in the world. They’re loved by swimmers for their clear waters and safe location away from waves, and also by photographers keen to snap that perfect Instagram shot. With one iconic pool due for a major upgrade, we investigate the history of sidney pools and why they’re such a treasured feature of the city’s coastline and harbour.
Ocean pools are a rare breed in this age of artificial beaches, with some built into the side of cliffs and others carved out of rock at the beachfront. The pools are a lifeguard’s dream, providing a calm water area for people to swim in when waves are too dangerous. They’re also popular with families, as they provide a safe alternative to swimming in the surf.
At their best, the pools are a delight to see, with their glassy blue waters and sunlit rocks, and the sound of swimmers splashing and chatting. However, as they become eroded and polluted from years of use, they’re in danger of disappearing altogether. This is a problem across Australia, with many coastal towns and cities seeing their ocean pools decline in popularity.
Sydney has more ocean pools than any other city in the world, including its closest rival Cape Town, with 35 in total between Palm Beach and Cronulla. They range from the infinitely Instagrammable Bondi Icebergs to hidden gems in Sydney’s northern beaches, such as McIver’s Ladies Baths (the only female-only ocean pool in the Southern Hemisphere), South Curl Curl Pool and Bilgola Sea Pool.
The pools are not only popular with swimmers but also with marine life. Jellyfish wash into the pools with the tide, and whale carcasses can wash up on some beaches, such as at Newport, where a 2.4 metre one was spotted in 2012. And at the Fairy Bower pool next to Cabbage Tree Bay aquatic reserve in Manly, scientists are helping to re-create homes for the tiny creatures displaced by the pool’s concrete walls.
But it’s the redevelopment of the Mosman Pool that’s becoming the focus of a fierce debate. The council has blown its initial estimate of $26 million out of the water and now needs another $20 million to get it finished. The local community group, Mosman Collective, says the council’s actions are a “betrayal” and that it’s not doing enough to protect the city’s heritage. Council, for its part, has denied any wrongdoing.