Australia’s oldest pool to finally get a refurbishment

The long-awaited heritage restoration work at Dawn Fraser Baths has commenced and contractor Belmadar has taken possession of the site initially to conduct geotechnical sampling to inform the final design for construction.

Last year, Inner West Council adopted the Dawn Fraser Pool Master Plan, which demonstrated that if priority works were not undertaken immediately the pool was likely to become unsafe for public and sporting use in the near future.

The heritage restoration of the baths includes:

• Replacing the pavilion including the decking;

• Upgrading the lighting to improve capacity for training and competitions at night and make sure UTS Balmain Tigers Water Polo Club can remain in their home pool;

• Raising the baths’ floor level to mitigate sea level rise and future-proof the facility;

• Improving the entry configuration and access from the harbour foreshore;

• Renovating the male and female showers, toilets and change rooms;

• Providing four new unisex family change rooms;

• Providing a new equal access toilet, shower and change room.

Council successfully obtained a $2.2 million grant from the NSW Government which – when added to the $4.5 million already committed by the Council – has enabled the urgent works to commence.

Works are expected to be completed well before the October 2020 swimming season.

Caption: Dawn Fraser Baths, built in the 1880s, is the oldest pool and swimming club in Australia