What Micky thinks
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Access - Well served by public transport (Bus 461X, 490 & 492 and 500m from Croydon Station
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Value - $9.80 is higher than others in City of Sydney; however parking is free (2 hours) and lockers at no cost
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Water quality - In each swim I have had the water quality is high, good clean visibility.
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Amenities - Change facilities are good, redone in 2020.
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Surroundings & Experience - Not a huge amount of green space, however there are 6 pools here. The café is on par with others (I am over banana bread!), good coffee.
In a nut shell
For inner city dwellers this is a great location to swim laps or enjoy the many other pools, particularly for families. This pool has been part of this community for over 60 years and well loved by locals.
Background
Prior to colonisation the Ashfield area was the home of the Wangal people
As Australia continued to shine at the 1956 & 1960 Olympics with swimmers such as Murray Rose, the Konrad’s and the great Dawn Fraser winning medals councils wanted to have their own pool to be able to develop future champions.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 6am to 8pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays (non-daylights savings period): 6am to 7pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays (daylights savings period): 6am to 8pm
The Pools
Combination of indoor/outdoor
1 x 50 m 8 lane. 2 x toddler pools
1 x 25 meter indoor 1 x hydrotherapy
1 x Water Polo and used for aquarobics.
Construction
The Ashfield Pool Waterslide was erected in 1983 and operated 10 years.
The Waterslide had 3 different tubes, including “The Black Hole”, a fully enclosed black tube that started from about 10 meters in height.
The Waterslide was closed in 1994 as a result of increased public liability insurance costs making the operation of the slide unprofitable.
1963 Opening - Nice hat!
In Ashfield the council had to acquire land from residents which took some time, however the pool was opened on 26th January, Australia Day, in 1963 by the NSW Premier Heffron.
Australian swimmers Linda McGill and Jan Hogan gave demonstrations of butterfly and breastroke to the crowd.
1963 Opening - Diving Demonstration
As with many council pools a decision was to close in 2018 for major redevelopment. The Centre was re-opened with many new pools and a gym in 2020.
Ashfield Aquatic Centre is home to Ashfield Amateur Swim Club (UNSW Water Polo Club and Ashfield Amateur Swim Club (Ashfield Amateur Swim Club)
Ashfield Pool 2023
1 comment
Love Ashfield pool.
Main reason is that I watched my son go up and down what seemed like a million times (actually 8 times) in coming 3rd in the u/15 Regional Medley in the early 00s.
The winner was destined to be an Olympian I think, but that day he was swimming with a lightweight fibre cast splint on his right arm… for a broken arm. The stands were full, so I’m guessing a crowd of nearly 1,000. Darcy finished on the same lap, and got a huge cheer, just like the guy who came 2nd. I think that the other smimmers finished too, despite the dominance of the winner!