On the site of what was once four pocket sized parks intersected
by roads and parked cars, this area is now a consolidated
park with a swimming and leisure centre.
An exploration of this site reveals a number of other water
features, including the Yurong Water Garden which takes as
its inspiration the Yurong Creek that long ago ran near the
eastern extremity of the park through to the mangrove swamps
at the estuary of Woolloomooloo Bay.
Images
Pools
for the 21st Century
Sydney’s newest water features are located at Cook
& Phillip Park. This complex contains pools for swimming
and for healing, for contemplation and for decoration.
Old ideas of providing a ‘swimming pool’ have
been replaced by notions of the complete leisure centre.
This exterior view shows the partially buried swimming
pools, landscaped park with pool and the St Mary’s
Cathedral as backdrop. The spires of this 120 year old
church were completed in 2000. The pool and park complex
was opened in 1999. (City of Sydney Media
Image Library, 000/000517)
The
art of the pool
In the main 50 metre pool at Cook & Phillip Park,
Wendy Sharpe has created an eight panel mural depicting
scenes from the life of Annette Kellerman, swimmer, aquatic
performer, filmstar and author of health books. (City
of Sydney Media Image Library, 000/000516)
In
the pool
The enclosed and partially underground Cook & Phillip
pool complex maximises the use of natural light. This
image is of the ‘leisure pool’ complete with
wave maker, a river run that bubbles and a tiled ‘beach’.
Two hundred years ago the shores of the harbour around
the City offered all this for real. (City
of Sydney Media Image Library, 000/000513)
