Access to toilet/change facilities Actively maintained Disabled Access

Men Women Children

Current Use: Ocean baths.
Condition: Good, well maintained. Facilities at clubhouse on beach.

From the 1860s
Quarrying rock for the training walls constructed at Yamba to provide a safer entry for ships into the Clarence River at Yamba created a potential swimming pool.

1893
With the Yamba quarry completely exhausted, quarrying operations moved south to Angourie.

1940s
The pool in the former quarry was used for recreation, sport and swimming training by local people and schools.

1962
After public baths were opened in the nearby town of Maclean, the Maclean High School no longer used Yamba's quarry pool for swimming and lifesaving classes.

1968
Complaints about pollution at the quarry pool plus a health inspector's confirmation that that it was a health hazard convinced Maclean Shire Council to construct a rock pool at Yamba's main surfing beach.

1969
Yamba's new rock pool was completed at a cost of $33,534.

1976
When the rock pool failed to satisfy rising community expectations of a public pool, a public meeting pressed for construction of an Olympic pool. A swimming club was formed to make the pool project eligible for a NSW government grant.
 

Late 1830s
Cedar getters reached the Clarence River, the biggest river on the east coast of Australia.

1854
Shipping had grown so rapidly that a pilot station was established at Yamba.

1862
The population of Yamba still consisted only of the Aboriginal community and the pilot station staff.

1864
Yamba was gazetted as a village.

1885
Yamba was gazetted  as a town.

1891
Yamba had become the seaside resort for the upriver communities such as Grafton.

Early twentieth century
Sugar cane had become an established crop along the Clarence and Yamba had a Surf Lifesaving Club by 1908, thriving guest-houses and hotels and an expanding fishing industry. Yamba's further development was constrained by the lack of a convenient rail connection to major cities, the poor quality of the roads, the dramatic sand drifts which threatened to bury parts of the town, the Depression and World War II.

Late twentieth century
From 1958, an annual fishing contest initially hosted by radio personality Jack Davey helped enhance Yamba's reputation as a recreational fishing centre. Once the harbour works ceased in the 1970s, tourism became the mainstay of Yamba's economy. Yamba is now a retirement community and a tourist town with well-patronised caravan parks.

To be added.

1960s ocean baths that appears to be the northernmost of the adult-size ocean baths. Relatively late example of a rock pool constructed to meet needs for recreational and competitive swimming. While superseded as a sporting venue by an inground Olympic pool, it remains a tourist attraction and a significant local recreational facility.

Assessed significance: Local.
Current heritage status: No.
 

Related Topics Tourism

Studies & References To be added.