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The Legend Returns: 10,000 Visitors Celebrate Historic North Sydney Olympic Pool Opening Weekend

North Sydney Council

More than 10,000 people visited North Sydney Olympic Pool during its free opening weekend, with hundreds of coffees, cups of hot chips and gelato cones enjoyed by the community.

Between Friday 7 August and Sunday 9 August, the newly reopened facility welcomed community members eager to explore the redeveloped pool, enjoy free entertainment and experience the aquatic, fitness and wellness facilities for the first time.

Opening Weekend by the Numbers

• 10,000 visitors
• 818 cups of coffee served
• 487 scoops of gelato enjoyed
• 282 cups of hot chips sold

The strong community response followed months of anticipation with more than 5,000 people taking part in preview tours of the facility in the lead up to the official reopening.

The opening weekend began with Friday's official Opening Ceremony. The event featured a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Cammeraygal Elders Auntie Jeanie and Auntie Tarunna, speeches from North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker, the Honourable Sophie Cotsis MP and swimming legend Shane Gould.

"Buildings become landmarks because of their architecture. They become icons because of the people who fill them,” Gould said at the Opening Ceremony on Friday.

“Today we celebrate not only the reopening of a remarkable pool, but the beginning of thousands of new stories that will unfold in these waters. May this place continue to inspire health, courage, friendship and community for generations to come."

North Sydney local, Alice, said she was thrilled to be one of the first to dive back into the pool.

“I've swam at this pool for many, many years as a national swimmer, when I was younger. It's really exciting to be back here and see how it's been transformed,” she said.

“I think it's going to be a wonderful, wonderful thing for everyone in the community that it's back open again.”

Sydney local, Louisa, was just as excited to see the legendary facility make a return.

“I love this pool. I've lived here for many, many years and I've always come for a treat to have a good swim. Some of my favourite memories here are lazing around on a summer's day and just having all the icons around you feeling a bit carefree.  It feels a little bit international.”

North Sydney resident, Glen, said he’s thrilled to see the return of the Pool so it can continue to bring people together.

“I was here as a kid. I went to North Sydney boys. We came down here for swimming carnivals. It was fantastic. It's nice to have a public facility which works for everyone, which is pretty rare these days.”

Now in its 90^th year, the heritage-listed facility has played a significant role in Australia's sporting and community history since it first opened in 1936. The Pool hosted the 1938 British Empire Games (known today as The Commonwealth Games) and has witnessed 86 world records.  

The redevelopment has carefully restored the Pool’s significant Art Deco heritage. Four heritage structures remain onsite including the Eastern Stair Tower, the Southern Heritage Wall with its restored neoclassic stucco motifs, the outer Gym wall and Western staircase. Thousands of original 1930s bricks were salvaged and reused wherever possible, while replacement bricks were individually hand-painted to match the original brickwork. 

Alongside its restored heritage features, the redevelopment has created a world-class aquatic, fitness and wellness destination for the community.  

Visitors can now enjoy:   

• Refurbished outdoor 50m program pool with a boom to separate the pool into halves or quarters to accommodate for swimming competitions, school carnivals, additional lap swimmers (for example) and birthday parties  

• Two indoor pools (25m lap pool and program pool)  

• Spa, sauna and steam room  

• Children’s outdoor pool and splash pad   

• Creche with indoor and outdoor play spaces  

• State-of-the-art Gym, Group Fitness Studio and Reformer Pilates Studio   

• Revitalised group fitness class program  

• Hire spaces for birthday parties and/or corporate events   

• New cafe with a professionally designed menu, serving Campos coffee  

• Gelato Bar   

• Upgraded sun deck   
• New entry and retail store   

 

Find out more about Membership, Learn to Swim and programs at the North Sydney Olympic Pool: northsydneyolympicpool.com.au/  

Contact details:

[email protected]

0426 515 896