NSW Ocean Baths - Collaroy Rockpool

1919
A young man was taken by a shark just off the Collaroy Rock Pool.

Early 1920s
A early rock pool appeared on the Collaroy estate subdivision plan.

1926
The ocean pool constructed for Warringah Shire by Arthur Larkin officially opened.

1935
The Collaroy Progress Association submitted a plan for a proposed extension to the rock pool, requesting Council to obtain a loan under the Unemployment Relief Scheme for the pool. Tenders were called in May.

1937
Work to deepen the rock pool and extend its length to 55 yards was completed under the Unemployment Relief Scheme. A women's Amateur Swimming Club re-formed and used Collaroy's rock pool for its carnivals. The Club's membership grew rapidly and averaged around 175 members annually until the 1970s. Club events were held on Saturday afternoons, long-distance events on Wednesday evenings, plus carnivals and social events.

1944 & 1945
The Northern Suburbs Women's Amateur Swimming Association formed. It involved ladies clubs at Collaroy, Dee Why, Freshwater, Manly and Narrabeen ocean pools.

On October 3 1945, the Collaroy (Men's) Amateur Swimming Club had its first Annual General Meeting.

From 1946 onwards
The women's Amateur Swimming Club promoted learn-to-swim campaigns that taught many children and adults at the Collaroy pool.

1948
On 6 April, the Collaroy (Men's) Amateur Swimming Club had its last recorded meeting.

1950 to 1952
Aboriginal boys and girls from inland NSW attending the annual Aboriginal Welfare Board summer camp held at the Salvation Army's Collaroy centre were photographed swimming at the Collaroy Pool.

On 15 August 1952, the Collaroy Amateur Swimming Club reformed, with its members swimming on Sunday mornings. As usual, the men's Amateur Swimming Club used the Collaroy surf club building as their clubhouse.

1960s
A winter swimming club, the Collaroy Crabs, was started as an adjunct to the men's Amateur Swimming Club.

1966
The rock pool wall was reconstructed. Standard swimming pool step-ladders were installed on its northern and western walls.

1970s
The Collaroy pool was enlarged, its natural rock bottom concreted, external decking laid and an electric pump installed and public toilets built. Swimmers no longer tripped over and hit their feet on the bottom. Though the main pool was 50 metres by 25 metres and the wading pool 18 metres by 10 metres, this pool with no parallel walls remained fairly impractical for swimming carnivals.

1983
Widening of the western end promenade to the pool to 2.4 metres commenced.

1985
The Collaroy pool walkway was constructed.

1994
Council approval for swimming club use of rock pools for club races specified that the public must continue to have access to a minimum of two lanes in the pool during the club races.

1997 & 1998
As vandalism and damage in the parks and reserves adjoining Collaroy Beach and its swimming pool were linked to irresponsible consumption of alcohol in those parks, Warringah Council considered declaring an alcohol-free zone in the Collaroy Central Business District.

The rock pool was refurbished to level its surrounding walkway and increase the width of its southern wall. The pool was closed to the public in June for repairs and did not re-open until November 29.

While its much-loved pool was closed, Collaroy's unofficial Lizards Club turned to ocean swimming. Community pressure had led to re-opening of the pool in early December, before the work was complete. While some problems with the pool had still to be corrected, the improvement was marked. The Collaroy Women's Amateur Swimming Club, which had changed its name to the Collaroy Women and Associates Swimming Club, was back at the pool in early December. As part of the 1997-98 Swim safe program conducted in council and community pools, the Collaroy Amateur Swimming Club conducting classes at the rock pool before its Sunday races.

1999
Enraged at possible disposal of the so-called Collaroy Children's Hospital site, which had been an extraordinarily public-spirited gift, local residents proposed the building be used for children or adults with spinal injuries, who could make use of the Collaroy rock pool and its modern wheelchair facilities.

Three schools a week used the pool during the swimming season.

2000
Swimmers complained that Collaroy pool was vile, slimy and not being cleaned properly, as Warringah Council had stopped scrubbing the walls and floor of the pool and only flushed it. Warringah Council denied any decline in high-pressure cleaning of the pool, noting that a build-up of slime could occur when high tides and high seas prevented the pool from being emptied. The Council spokesman attributed the oil slick on the water surface to body fat and the oils used in the base of sunblock creams.

2001
Collaroy was an almost flawlessly clean beach according to the EPA, but locals again complained about slime on the bottom of the rock pool. Apparently, due to the level of the outlet valve, Collaroy pool was the only Warringah ocean pool that could not be cleaned by high-pressure water-blasting. Cleaning staff needed to wear waders and use brooms to 'sweep' the bottom.

The viewing area next to the rock pool was used by swimmers, people hungover from the previous night, travellers, walkers, runners, and dreamers attracted to the still water of the pool. One of the Collaroy Lizards had swum at Collaroy for about 54 of his 80 years.

2004
Residents objected to council staff cleaning the Collaroy rock pool with a high-pressure hose attached to a water tap, while Sydney had water restrictions. While use of a new firefighting pump meant most of the water for pool cleaning came from the ocean, Warringah's pools were normally cleaned at low tide and it was difficult to get that pump to work at very low tide.

Name: Collaroy Rock Pool