Murwillumbah Olympic Memorial Pool

About

The Murwillumbah Olympic Memorial Pool is located within the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, opposite Remembrance Place, Murwillumbah. It is an outdoor 50 metre pool, accompanied by a concrete grandstand. It is dedicated to those from the Tweed district who have served in conflicts in which Australia has been involved, from the First World War onwards.  The pool was first opened on 20 October 1962 by Shire President C.H. Hall. It was upgraded in 2008 and re-dedicated on 28 November by Murwillumbah RSL sub-Branch President Derek Sims. The whole facility was also expanded around this time and was officially opened on the same day by Tweed Shire Mayor Joan van Lieshout. It now includes many modern amenities, such as a child's play pool, water slide, indoor 25 metre pool, and a purpose-built hydrotheraphy pool. Access inside the pool complex is restricted by its admission rules.  The original Murwillumbah Memorial Baths The first memorial pool in Murwillumbah was established in the late 1930s. It was a 30 metre inground pool, built in honour of those who served in the First World War. Planning for it began in 1927, when the Murwillumbah Memorial Baths Committee determined "the baths should be constructed in Knox Park, and a public meeting will be called shortly to consider the matter" (The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 September 1927). At a further meeting held in late April 1928, it was decided to form a sub-committee to confer with the Municipal Council to have plans, specifications, and estimates prepared. In October 1932, a modified scheme was presented to the council and they decided a referendum should be held (Tweed Daily, 29 October 1932). On 12 November, ratepayers voted against the baths proceeding (Tweed Daily, 14 November 1932). Another vote was held in September 1936, and by January 1937, an alternate site was chosen facing Queen Street (Tweed Daily, 16 September 1936; 28 January 1937).  In July 1937, the committee found out the plans and specifications had been approved by the Department of Works and Local Government. Later that month, council endorsed the submitted tenders. In August, Mr Spooner, the Minister for the department, increased the government's grant from £1,000 to £1,500. A similar amount was to be provided by the council, plus £1,250 from the committee. The tender for the pool was won by Bowers and Laird at a cost of £2,002/16. The tender for the baths building went to J. Sutton at £955. The consulting engineers were Haskins and Davey and the plans and specifications were prepared by local architect Mr R. Buchanan (Tweed Daily, 11 February 1937; 26 August 1937). Construction began shortly after on 14 September 1937.  It was planned Minister Spooner would open the baths and associated water augmentation scheme in March 1938. However, the opening ceremonies did not take place until 6 October. On the day, the Minister also opened the Returned Soldiers' Club Room, which was also on site, and handed the keys for the pool's dressing rooms to a representative of the Murwillumbah Amateur Swimming Club (Tweed Daily, 7 October 1938). When the new Olympic pool was built in 1962, the original 1938 pool was sub-divided into three smaller pools.