Kirby Swim School reviving former Laurie Potter facility at Perth’s Melville Plaza

A neglected pool nestled in the Perth suburb of Bicton is in the process of being brought back to life by Olympic gold medallist and swim school operator Bill Kirby.

Operated by infamous gym industry figure Laurie Potter in the 1980s, the Melville Plaza facility has sat empty since the closure of Laurie Potter’s gym chain 29 years ago.

Now, Kirby and property group Hawaiian are resurrecting the pool, with refurbishment already underway and completion scheduled for November this year.

When completed, Kirby Swim School will take up the tenancy, offering both swimming lessons for children and aqua therapy classes such as water walking and aquarobics for the elderly.

Kirby told local newspaper the Melville Times “I’ve been a Melville resident for the past six or seven years and literally live about 500 metre away from the shopping centre.

“I come here all the time and never would have guessed there was a pool, so when I found out I was immensely surprised.

“I already have purpose built pools in Mandurah and Karrinyup and wasn’t on the lookout for a new one at all but being from the area I thought it was such a good opportunity and decided to throw my hat in the ring.”

The existing pool needs is having an all-new filtration system installed and will also be completely re-tiled.

Other works will include a raised toddlers’ area, new changing room amenities, a first aid room and a new reception area.

Laurie Potter's chain of Western Australian fitness clubs collapsed on 15th September 1987 leaving 82,000 members without access to the nfacilities they had paid.

In a move that would impact the Australian fitness industry for many years, the clubs had been selling one-off payment life memberships (a popular practice at time) until the day before the business failed.

Main image: BIll Kirby. Images courtesy of Kirby Swim.