Australians enjoy swimming the ocean, but many Aussies also appreciate taking a quick dip in a local pool afterward. At most Sydney subway stops there is at least one municipal pool within walking distance – many set in rolling parks like Victoria Park Pool near University of Sydney where easygoing locals and university girls in bikinis flock for laps midmorning while coogee’s tide rock pools carved into cliffs add another splash. Finally at the northern end of Harbour Bridge framing Luna Park stands North Sydney Olympic Pool which – where records can be set and broken by swimmers who set records in swimming records that may set or break records set or broken by swimmers!

Sydney has long been recognized as an excellent city swimming destination. While most are aware that Australia’s capital city features numerous harbour and ocean pools, few realize their significance within Sydney history – they rank among its most significant landmarks according to Marie-Louise McDermott, historian and creator of All Into Ocean Pools website dedicated solely to bathing areas across Sydney.

Built between the 1860s and 1900s, many pool complexes were intended to protect swimmers from high waves and the risk of shark attacks, while also serving recreational and competitive swimmers who needed somewhere safe to practice their laps away from surf conditions.

Australian cities now own and operate public swimming pools that are council-owned, and these costs have skyrocketed over recent decades due to shifting costs for infrastructure to local councils, and rate capping restricting how much rates can increase every year making it hard for cities to cover budgets.

At the same time, there has never been greater need to ensure safe and healthy water for all Australians. When hospitals were overwhelmed during the pandemic, local swimming pools became vital lifelines for people unable to access health services – an estimated 3.6 million Australians visited a community pool during its duration!

So it is no secret that new swimming pools are appearing across Australia. Some are relatively tame municipal ones shaped like giant swimming rings located in urban centres while others can be found tucked into beaches or suburban landscapes. One significant development is a floating pool designed by Andrew Burges Architects funded by City of Sydney on Glebe foreshore which provides more entry points into harbour for safe access by visitors.