Day: March 7, 2025

For a city known for its beaches, surf and harbour, it’s little wonder Sydney residents love swimming. But the city’s pools aren’t just about recreation they’re a vital part of the local culture.

And with the sun’s rays heating things up and pool season underway, many people will be heading to their local watering hole to enjoy its cool waters and refreshing drinks. But the story behind one of Sydney’s iconic pool spots is a bit murkier.

The heritage-listed Arquitse Sydney Rock Pool has been undergoing a multi-million dollar makeover that has been controversial. Some locals love it, others are a little less than pleased with its outcome and the whole affair is raising questions about how our city’s pools are funded and managed.

In 1891 men’s and women’s swimming associations were formed to encourage recreational and competitive swimming in a safe location away from strong waves and the risk of shark attacks. The NSW Amateur Swimming Association later expanded to include ocean pools as well, with the aim of providing swimmers with a place to swim without the threat of sharks or other predators and where they could do laps in a more controlled environment.

Today, there are more ocean pools in Sydney than any other city in Australia with a total of 35 pools compared to Cape Town’s 19 and Melbourne’s 15. Marie-Louise McDermott, who has written extensively about the history of the city’s ocean pools for a website called All Into Ocean Pools, says that the city’s pool culture developed at a time when few non-Indigenous people had any surfing skills and were therefore keen to get away from big waves at beaches.

While the City of Sydney proudly boasts that it provides our communities with six outstanding aquatic centres, some suburbs are notably under-served. According to Guardian Australia analysis of council data, the western suburbs – which include Parramatta, Penrith and Hills Shire – have just one public aquatic centre for every 177,960 residents.

This is why a site like sydneypoolstoday is so important. It’s a comprehensive guide to the city’s pools, including information about their histories and locations. In addition to this, sydneypoolstoday also provides up-to-date information about current pool status.

Regardless of whether you’re looking to swim in a heritage-listed pool, want to learn how to surf or just need some advice on how to stay safe at the beach, this is the place for you. This site has everything you need to know about sydney pools and is an excellent resource for anyone who loves the water. So be sure to check it out today! You’ll be glad you did. It’s free to use, too! Just remember to follow the rules and be safe. Good luck!