In the hot summer months, many people want to go swimming. Whether they are going to the local pool or in their backyard, everyone wants a place to cool off. This is why swimming pools quickly became a must-have for many homes. They can also be used for a variety of other activities, such as water exercise and hydrotherapy.
Unlike indoor public pools, Sydney’s ocean pools offer an openness to the sea, beach and sky. They attract swimmers, artists and beachgoers for recreational and competitive swimming, learn-to-swim programs and treasured forms of wave-play. Located on the rocky beaches of the surf coast from Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the south, these pools are often more lively than any indoor pool and a wonderful environment for the enjoyment of the great outdoors.
These coastal pools are the result of a combination of sand and rock, making them a perfect fit for Sydney’s “Sandstone City” moniker. The sand provides a suitable surface for excavating pools, and the rocky headlands provide an ideal balance of rock material that is easily diggable but stable over human time scales. The mild to warm air temperatures and the East Australian (“Nemo”) current create an optimal environment for swimming and bathing.
From the late 19th century, Sydney’s ocean pools were popular venues for both recreational and competitive swimming. They were also a safe place to swim away from strong waves and the risk of shark attacks. The pools also forged links with country communities, as they were used to train country children for the Stewart House Preventorium and other social tourism programs.
The earliest pools were constructed on Sydney’s northern beaches and around Coogee Bay. Their popularity was boosted by the 1890s club swimming carnivals, which featured men’s and women’s diving events and water polo matches. These events were novel in colonial Australia, and they continued to be popular even after Sydney’s surf-coast municipalities legalised daylight bathing.
The swimming pools of the Sydney metropolitan area are primarily built to serve as safe, accessible and convenient locations for residents to enjoy recreational and fitness opportunities. In addition, they provide an attractive and relaxing setting for family and friends to gather and spend time.
When planning to build a new swimming pool in your home, it’s important to follow the guidelines set by your local council. You can contact your council or speak with one of our authorised pool builders to find out more about the approval process. It’s also important to check with your local electricity authority or Transgrid to see if any essential cables run beneath the ground where you plan to position your new pool. If this is the case, you’ll need to notify these agencies of your plans before starting construction. They will then ensure that the work is carried out safely and in accordance with all necessary regulations. They will also be able to provide you with an accurate timeline of how long it will take to have your swimming pool installed.