Access to toilet/change facilities Actively maintained Disabled Access

Men Women Children

Current Use: Children's ocean baths.
Condition: Good.

1947
Waverley Municipal Council decided to build a children's swimming pool (then known as the Mermaid Pool) at North Bondi and construction drawings by consulting engineers were issued on 5 February.

1960s
The Mermaid Pool was reconstructed by the Waverley Municipal Council and a mosaic wall created as a community arts initiative, involving a great deal of voluntary labour. The Bondi Community Art mural mosaic running the length of the children's pool area features sea images.

1998
Waverley Council commissioned an investigation report on the North Bondi Children's Pool from the NSW Department of Public Services. The report recommended construction of a new intake line through the Wally Weekes Bathing Pool and the existing rock shelf.

2001
Waverley Council commissioned a further report on the North Bondi Children's Pool  and a review of the Wally Weekes Pool from Patterson Britton & Partners Pty Ltd, an engineering firm with considerable experience and expertise in the design and upgrading of ocean pools. That report recommended using a submersible electrical pump to improve the water quality in the children's pool, reconfiguring the pipes for the pump and widening the bottom step on the northern side of the pool to match the bottom step on the southern side. Council's heritage architect approved the proposed modifications.

Waverley Council approved a tender for upgrading of the Wally Weekes Bathing Pool and the North Bondi Children's Pool, subject to confirmation of available funding. 

Bondi was the home, fishing and swimming place for the Cadigal people. Aboriginal rock carvings at the Bondi Golf Course, Ben Buckler Reserve and the coastal walk at Mackenzie's Point are protected by State legislation.

1889
The Bondi Ocean outfalls sewage system was completed with an ocean outfall at the northern headland known as Ben Buckler.

1899
The Australian Museum first collected stone tools shaped like a scalpel or penknife blade and made thousands of years earlier from the northern end of the beach. Some of these tools, along with other stone implements and artefacts (grindstone, nose ornaments, scrapers, spear points, etc.) and the remnants of an Aboriginal midden containing shellfish debris are now buried under Bondi's Queen Elizabeth Drive.

Early 20th century
Although Sydney's Bondi Beach is only a kilometre long, the Bondi and North Bondi communities developed their own surf clubs and ocean baths.

1981
In February, surf pollution at Bondi was found to be 1,000 times above the acceptable level.

1990s
Extension of the Bondi Ocean outfalls system reduced surf pollution.
 

National Trust of Australia (NSW)

Post-WWII children's pool, later decorated with a community art mosaic. One of the more elaborate free-standing children's pools, though on a smaller scale than Newcastle's Canoe Pool.

Assessed significance: Local.
Current heritage status: To be advised.
 

Related Topics Artworks & artists Children Injuries & public liability Working bees & voluntary labour

Studies & References 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.