Dawn Fraser Baths to open this week offering relief during Sydney’s COVID lockdown

The newly refurbished Dawn Fraser Baths will open to Sydney's Inner West population this Wednesday following the issuing of a public health order specifically allowing the historic harbourside pool to reopen during Sydney’s COVID lockdown.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne advised that the Inner West population would be able to swim at the baths after being cut off from open water swimming in recent weeks due to the five kilometre restriction on travel.

Mayor Byrne notes “being able to swim and enjoy Australia’s oldest and most beautiful harbourside pool will really lift the spirts of local people.

“With beaches having been cut off and public pools closed many regular swimmers had lost their most important source of physical exercise and mental relief, right at the time that they needed it most.

“We will open the doors of the Baths on Wednesday 8th September and everyone in the Inner West will be able book in for a COVIDSafe swim for an hour at a time. Being able to swim in the ocean will be a massive boost to local morale and mental health that will help our community to get through the long days of lockdown.

Mayor Byrne added “Health Minister Brad Hazzard has personally intervened in response to our request to open ‘Dawnys’. The Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen, also approach the Minister directly, and on behalf of the Inner West I thank them both sincerely.

“Having recently completed a once in a generation heritage refurbishment of the Baths I can’t wait for people to see for themselves how beautiful the restoration is. Entry for the first two weeks will be free and ‘Dawnys’ will be an oasis for our community for the duration of the lockdown.”

Swimming at the Baths will be enabled by strict adherence to a COVID-safety plan including:

• All swimming being by appointment only with bookings to open on Monday morning through Council’s website.

• No access to changerooms, toilets, showers or sunbaking.

• Patrons will be required to begin their swim upon entry and leave immediately afterwards.

• The pool will be divided into lanes to ensure safe physical distancing and the beach area will also be segregated for limited use.

• Total attendance at the Baths will be limited to 26 patrons at any one time.