‘Last Lap’ event staged at soon to be demolished Adelaide Aquatic Centre

In advance of its upcoming closure to make way for a new $135 million facility, the Adelaide Aquatic Centre has today staged a final event for swimmers.

Due to close this Wednesday, before demolition commences on 1st August, the ageing Centre in North Adelaide today held a ‘Last Lap’ event, welcoming hundreds of community members.

Speaking of the event, City of Adelaide Council Lord Mayor, Jane Lomax-Smith stated “goodbyes can be hard but we are happy that hundreds of families who have used the Adelaide Aquatic Centre over so many years get to join us for ‘The Last Lap’.

“Millions of South Australians have enjoyed the centre since 1969 and we are set to move to an exciting new chapter, with a state-of-the-art facility to cater for the next generation.”

Once Australia’s leading indoor aquatic centre, the facility has encountered a series of maintenance and structural issues in recent years while its status as South Australia’s major aquatic venue was taken by the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre which opened in 2011.

Looking back on its value, South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Tom Koutsantonis noted “the Adelaide Aquatic Centre has served the people of South Australia well for more than 50 years.

“Now, it’s time for a new centre that will serve South Australians for generations to come with world-class pools and facilities.”

Set to open in the summer of 2025/26, the new centre, which began construction in March, will feature extensive indoor and outdoor pool areas, water slides, splash zones and lawned recreation facilities.

It will also feature gym and fitness facilities, a spa/sauna/steam room and improved community change rooms. It will be powered by 100% renewable energy and constructed wherever possible of locally sourced, low-carbon emission materials.

Demolition of the existing facility will commence as of Thursday and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

From next month, the first part of the structure of the new centre will be built. Then later this year, work on the roof and façade of the new centre will be built.

Already the areas for the indoor pools including the 50m, learn to swim and warm water pools have been dug.

Work has commenced on the structural aspects of the indoor pools and more than 700 piles have been installed to support the pools and building structure.

Looking forward to the opening of the new Centre, Mayor Lomax-Smith added “we can’t wait to welcome people to the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre in the summer of 2025/26.”

Images: Scenes from today's ‘Last Lap’ event at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Credit: Adelaide Aquatic Centre.