Access to toilet/change facilities Actively maintained Disabled Access

Men Women Children

Current Use: Ocean baths.
Condition: Good.

1925
The Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club (QSLSC) proposed construction of rock baths at Queenscliff.

1937
The rock pool was built by unemployed labour as part of the Unemployment Relief Scheme. Manly Council was constructing a stone wall along the ocean front (North Steyne) and was prepared to take any stone from the excavation for the Queenscliff rock pool. The QSLSC maintained the pool for a few years, before Council took over this responsibility.

1942
Warringah Council reportedly considered concreting the cliff-side of the pool and providing drains to catch run-off from the cliff-face.

Around 1950
The cliff-side of the pool was concreted and drains provided to catch run-off from the cliff-face.

Early 1960s
The NSW State Swimming Association asked the newly founded Queenscliff Amateur Swimming Club to separate into men's and ladies Amateur Swimming Clubs.

Campaigning for a State election in 1961 saw dedication of a site for a clubhouse near the pool. That clubhouse now host the Queenscliff Women's and Men's Swimming Clubs.

1962
A new two-storey brick  clubhouse for the Amateur Swimming Club was constructed and opened.

1982
Steps to and from the rock pool to the area above it were repaired.

1985
Repairs were made to the clubhouse. The Queenscliff pool was included as a heritage item on the draft Warringah Local Environmental Plan after the Warringah Heritage Inventory review identified it as having State or regional significance with the themes of 'leisure: organised and unorganised' and 'cultural and social life'.

Early 1990s
The pool was almost entirely reconstructed to produce a mechanically flushed 50-metre by 14-metre pool. The pool pumps were normally  installed each September and taken out the following April for servicing.

1999
During remediation works on the adjacent outlet for Manly Lagoon, the pool was filled in and major pool repairs were undertaken.

2000
To allow tidal flushing of the Manly lagoon, its outlet low-flow pipes were extended into deep water past the end of the Queenscliff rock pool. The impact of this work on the visual significance of the rock pool was considered both minimal and acceptable in heritage terms. Extensive work on the southern side of the rock pool was carried out when the low-flow pipes were installed.

2001
Concerns were raised about the state of the pool concourse. In accordance with standard practice, lane numbers were marked in September, just prior to the commencement of the swimming season.

2002
Warringah's coastal reserves extended from the Queenscliff rock pool northwards to North Narrabeen.

2003
The rock pool featured in sale pitches for two-bedroom, two-bathroom units priced around $995,000.

1881
The Queenscliff area developed rapidly after the surrounding land was subdivided.

1906
Warringah Shire was formed.

1914
Queenscliff was a favoured holiday centre offering the usual range of holiday shacks and tents for hire.

National Trust of Australia (NSW)

Created in the 1930s Depression to provide a safe swimming area for the community. Provides historical evidence of the importance of beach culture for the early residents of the area. A clubhouse for the Queenscliff Women's and Men's Swimming Clubs was added in the1960s. Reconstructed in 1991. Contributed to Queenscliff's development as a residential area and as a tourist destination.

Assessed significance: Local.
Current heritage status: Listed with local heritage status in the Warringah Local Environmental Plan in 2000.
 

Related Topics Council involvement Maintenance issues Pumps & valves Surf clubs Swim clubs Tourism Unemployment relief works Wildlife

Studies & References Warringah Heritage Study, 2001. National Trust listing EJE Landscape Architects & Christa Ludlow. Survey of Harbourside & Ocean Pools of the Sydney Metropolitan Region. Prepared for the National Trust of Australia (NSW), 1994. G. Gordon. Harbord, Queenscliff & Curl Curl, 1978.