Management of sports facilities, swimming pools, recreation and community centres

Unique IDAY-0037DescriptionManagement of sports facilities, swimming pools, recreation centres. Does not cover the design and construction of such facilities (see Activity 1 Construction and maintenance of buildings and structures).

On 4 May 1857 Council passed the following resolution: "That it is highly expedient as a Sanitary measure that this Council take into prompt consideration the necessity that exists for the establishment of Public Baths in the City of Sydney, and that the matter be referred to the Improvement Committee with instructions to report on the same shewing in such report the most desirable locality, the best plan to be adopted for their construction and an estimate of the probable expense of the same". (CRS 23/2)

Edward Bell, the City Engineer, prepared a report for the Improvement Committee (19 June 1857), suggesting three kinds of suitable baths: a sea water bath constructed upon the seashore; a sea water bath constructed so as to float near to an with an approach from the shore; and fresh water baths, with or without connected wash houses, in permanent buildings to be erected within the City. He suggested that the question of fresh water baths be deferred to "some future period when the water necessary for their abundant supply is about to be brought into the Town by the new Water Works which are in course of construction at Botany".

He suggested that the sea water baths "should be distributed at convenient distances around the most eligible positions where the water is purest and most frequently changed by the ebb and flow of the tides. Near the Fig Tree in Woolloomooloo Bay is the most favourable, and, in fact, the only recommendable, site for a Bathing Place to be constructed on the sea shore". However, he also suggested that floating baths near the sea shore could be constructed at Millers Point, Dawes Point, Fort Macquarie, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Pyrmont, and one especially for females in Woolloomooloo Bay near the present bathing place.

The Improvement Committee adopted his report and recommended that Council forward the report to the Government with a view to obtaining the necessary grants of land. The Corporation Baths were built on the site of the old Fig Tree Baths in 1858. In 1869 the Improvement Commitee recommended the construction of baths at Dawes Point and in 1874 at Pyrmont Point.CreationResolution of Council 4 May 1857
Sydney Corporation Act 1879, ss195, 224.
Council empowered to make by-laws to regulate bathing.

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Management of sports facilities, swimming pools, recreation and community centres