Protecting Heritage Places
10 steps to help protect the natural and cultural significance of places
Australian Heritage Commission, 2000
Step 4: Why is this place important? (continued)
Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool, Balmain
Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool, Balmain, New South Wales
Photo: D Chapman
The Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool is important for its historic associations with the development of recreational and competitive swimming and water polo in Australia (Criterion A). It has had particular associations since 1884 with the Balmain Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club, the oldest active swimming club in Australia.
The pool's name honours the club's most famous member, a winner of gold medals in three Olympic Games, whose swimming career was established at the pool (Criterion H). This is one of the few surviving tidal public baths which were once common in Sydney Harbour, and it is the only one complete with most of its buildings. These 1904-24 buildings are important for the way they demonstrate the characteristics of early twentieth century public baths (Criteria B and F).
The pool is also of considerable social value as a venue which has been used for sport and recreation by the Balmain community from 1883 to the present (Criterion G).
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