Sydney’s sdy pools are famous the world over for their breathtaking beauty and historic significance. Continuing in the Aboriginal tradition of “bogey holes,” these ocean pools are carved into headlands, allowing the tide to flood over them. They are a symbol of our love affair with the sea, where people can come into close contact with salt water and the energy of surf. In the early 1900s they became an integral part of Australian public life, drawing thousands of people to them for a refreshing dip and the excitement of surfing.
Today, they remain a beloved feature of our coastline. In NSW alone there are over 100 tidal pools, many of which are open to the public and charge an entrance fee. The iconic Bondi Icebergs Pool and Coogee Ocean Baths are among the most renowned, while further up the north coast you can find Wylie’s Baths and McIver’s Ladies Baths, each with a fascinating history.
One of the best places to see these tidal pools is on a walk between Manly and Shelly beaches called the Cabbage Tree Bay Eco Sculpture Walk. This route also passes Cabbage Tree Rock Pool, built in 1929 by local residents. It’s a roughly triangular pool, with its longest side – about 30 metres – adjoining the promenade at Manly Beach and the next headland. It is shaped by rocks and seaweed and features the Sea Nymphs sculpture.
Despite its diminutive size, the pool is used by swimmers of all ages and abilities. Whether they’re young children learning to swim, teenagers and families splashing around or the older generation swimming laps, everyone finds it an invigorating place. The salt and cold of the water are a natural elixir for those with achy joints or stiff muscles.
The pool is also a draw for scuba divers, snorkellers and sunbathers, but the biggest crowd is during surf carnivals. They are popular with local and interstate competitors who come to train in the waves in preparation for the annual carnivals.
There are plenty of arguments about the pros and cons of reopening the pool, but there is little agreement on how it should be run. Some argue that the money could be better spent on the council’s other priorities, while others point to a series of blunders by previous councils and say the pool will only get worse if it’s closed again for another two years.
Forsyth, whose family owns the business that runs the pool, is frustrated at the way things have been handled. But, she says, she feels no anger towards her council and blames the previous one for ‘financially perilous decisions’ that have landed them in the position they are now in.