Warringah Aquatic Centre looks to mark 40 years of operations

This Sunday will see the Warringah Aquatic Centre on Sydney's Northern Beaches mark 40 years since its official opening.

A project that was first conceived in the 1930s and then took two-and-a-half years to build was officially opened on 3rd November 1979  - although it had been in been in use for more than three months and already having hosted the NSW Winter Titles of that year.

Welcoming people to an open day to commemorate the anniversary this Sunday, Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan stated “the community was at the heart of Council’s decision to build the pool so families had the opportunity to swim and play together all year round in excellent conditions.

“When the pool was opened in 1979, it was hailed as the largest indoor - outdoor public swimming pool complex in Australia. Before its opening, local swimming clubs organised their swimming carnivals in ocean pools.

“The opening of the $4 million state-of-the-art Warringah Aquatic Centre - affectionately known as the WAC - changed the way local swim meets were held forever.

“Since opening, over 13 million people have visited the centre - and over 1.5 million of those have participated in Learn to Swim classes.”

On the day, there will be seven new members inducted into the Hall of Fame, bringing to 45 the number of Hall of Fame inductees. The Hall of Fame acknowledges swimmers and officials who have represented Australia or who have contributed to the Warringah/Northern Beaches community.

As reported by Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph, Councillors of the then Warringah Shire first expressed interest in building an Olympic-sized pool in 1935 when they let it be known they would like to be invited to inspect the Olympic pool at Enfield, which had opened in 1933.

In April 1946, 28 organisations on the Northern Beaches took part in a conference called by the Manly-Warringah Local Improvement Committee, which agreed to lobby the NSW Government for improvements in the area, including an Olympic pool.

While funding was not forthcoming, the idea did not die with various sites for a new pool put forward over the following decades.

Throughout the 1970s, momentum for the facility increased, encouraged by the neighbouring Manly Council build its own Olympic pool - the Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre - at the eastern end of Graham Reserve in Manly, which was opened in 1976.

As of August 1976, Warringah Council voted to call for tenders for the Olympic pool and in November that year signed a contract with Hornibrook Group to construct a complex comprising an outdoor learners’ pool and wading pool, an enclosed 50 metre by 20 metre heated swimming pool with an attached diving area with 1 metre, 3 metre and 5 metre platforms, with the enclosed building being constructed of concrete, brickwork and glass with seating for 1200 people.

The design of the main pool was altered to make it 51 metre long to accommodate a bulkhead that could be moved to create two 25 metre pools or a 33 metre water polo field.

The architects for the complex were Figgis & Jefferson Pty Ltd, the tender price was $2.366 million and the scheduled time of construction was 54 weeks.

The estimated cost of the complex was $3.16 million.

Work began in December and, after a number of delays, was hand over to the Council on Friday 27th July 2019.

Right from the outset the facility attracted elite athletes to the pool for both competitions and training. The Australian swimming team and Warringah’s own Lisa Forrest prepared for the Moscow Olympic Games at the Centre in 1980.

The WAC was again in the Olympic spotlight in 2000, when it was the training venue for Synchronised Swimming in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Swimmers who represented Australia and trained at the WAC include Mitchell Patterson who competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and Brooke Hanson who won gold and silver medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Water Polo players Holly Lincoln-Smith and Debbie Watson along with champion disability swimmers Ben Austin, Matt Levy and Kate Bailey all trained at the pool and represented Australia.

To commemorate the pool’s 40th birthday, Mayor Regan will officially open an exhibition of contemporary sculpture in the gardens of the swimming centre, called 3D Poolside.

Mayor Regan added “one of Council’s aims is to bring bold contemporary art to new audiences in unexpected places across the whole of the Northern Beaches. Alongside sport and swimming lessons, we also want to inspire children to enjoy a creative life.”

Currently the future of the Centre is uncertain as there are plans to move The Forest High School to the its site to make way for new town centre on the school site.

Images: The Warringah Aquatic Centre (top) and on the cover of Australasian Leisure Management issue 108 (below).