Sydney’s ocean pools – the city’s sandstone and granite beachside swimming sanctuaries – are one manifestation of its moniker “Sandstone City.” The southern two-thirds of NSW’s coastline consists of sandy beaches with rocky headlands, and mild to hot air temperatures and water temperatures that are conducive to bathing, swimming and surfing.

Pools were built at popular beaches, to protect swimmers from dangerous waves and shark attacks. They also provided a more hygienic, accessible and predictable place to swim at times unaffected by tides, making them easier to clean than the rocky shore.

During the Depression era, councils began building pools at suburbia’s northern beaches such as Mahon Pool at Maroubra and North Curl Curl, as well as on the city’s northern coastal path at Cabbage Tree Bay. The pools were a way of attracting people to the beach at a time when they were struggling for income, says author and historian Marie-Louise McDermott, who has created a website called All Into Ocean Pools.

But there were also changes in the way the public viewed the coastal environment, with people focusing more on preserving and conserving the rocky shore. This may be why new ocean pools stopped being built in the late 1960s, McDermott says. The trend instead turned to swimming at local pools and aquatic centres.

Those that remain are cherished by many people, as evidenced by the comments on the Facebook page of an Instagram user whose local pool was recently closed. “I’m sad to see my beloved pool go, but I understand,” he wrote. “I hope that people will remember all the good times it brought them and go for a swim somewhere else that has those memories.”

The closing of Canterbury pool is just the latest in a series of shutterings at post-war swimming pools across Sydney. Lawyer and community advocate Yusra Metwally has been deeply affected, having learned to swim at the Greenacre Swim Centre in her south-west Sydney suburb as a child, only to find it had closed in 2024.

If you want to build a pool, it’s important to check with your local government to learn what regulations and approvals are required for your area. You can also request a site plan from your local electricity authority to ensure that there are no essential cables running under the ground in the area you’re planning to build your pool.

Once you’ve consulted with your local council, you can start to consider what kind of swimming pool you want to build. There are a number of different options, including fiberglass and concrete pools. Fiberglass pools are great for families, as they’re easy to maintain and can be cleaned easily. On the other hand, concrete pools are more durable and can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Regardless of what type of pool you choose, make sure you do your research so that you can buy the best pool for your family’s needs. You should also speak with a qualified pool builder in your area.