In the 1950s there was a movement to encourage all children
to swim and inspired by the Olympic Games held in Melbourne
in 1956, many new pools were built across the country. Like
the new City of Sydney ones at Prince Alfred Park these were
built to standard dimensions and often included the word ‘Olympic’
in their name.
This site also provided for the less widespread water sport
of ice skating.
Images
Before
the pool
The Exhibition Building in Prince Alfred Park, built in
1870, was once the pride and joy of the City Council.
It was used for the annual Agricultural Show and for various
exhibitions and public gatherings. By the 1940s there
were suggestions that it be used as an indoor swimming
pool, but when this option proved too difficult it was
demolished in 1954 to make way for an Olympic pool. (September
1870. City of Sydney Archives, SRC Photographic Files)
A
proposal for a pool
The first plans for the Prince Alfred Park Pool were drawn
in 1954. These showed an enclosed indoor pool, a grandstand,
refreshment rooms and a gymnasium. (City
of Sydney Archives, CRS 34/1720/54)
...and
an ice rink too
In 1955 the Glaciarium closed its doors for the last time.
This indoor ice skating rink on Broadway had long been
a favourite place to socialise and without the ‘Glacie’
there was nowhere to skate in the City. The City Council
responded to public pressure and redesigned its plans
for Prince Alfred Park to include an ice rink next to
the pool. (City of Sydney Archives, SRC
Photographic Files)
A
thoroughly modern pool
This unknown artist’s impression shows the recently
completed pool and skating rink officially opened in 1958.
The support buildings are far more streamlined and ‘modern’
than those of the original plans. (City
of Sydney Archives, SRC Photographic Files)
The
complex in the 1980s
The expense of keeping such a large body of water frozen
was great. This image shows the rink under cover circa
1980. (City of Sydney Archives, SRC Photographic
Files)
Look
at me
The two men in the foreground of this 1961 photo are Lord
Mayor Harry Jensen and the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Bernard
Waley-Cohen. But who is the performer?
(City of Sydney Archives, SRC 106)
