Manilla Memorial Pool

About

The Manilla Memorial Pool is an outdoor complex which incorporates a fifty metre long, six lane swimming pool alongside an infant's wading pool, a children's playground, a series of picnic tables and a kiosk. Many memorial pools such as this were built throughout New South Wales following the Second World War which were funded by a range of local government, state and public funding.  The origins of the swimming pool at Manilla appear to have developed following the establishment of the Manilla Lifesaving and Swimming Club in October 1929 where the council agreed to construct a dressing shed near the Whirlpool on the Namoi River.  Due to an issue with live stock accessing the swimming pool, various efforts were made throughout the 1930s to raise funds to upgrade the facility including an appeal to the public works department. The Manilla War Memorial Baths Appeal and Fundraising Committee were created under the leadership of councillor Brian V. Byrnes as a further effort to get the project underway. The baths were eventually built by the Manilla Shire Council under the direction and supervision of the Shire Engineer, Ronald A.G. Trevallion BSC (Tech). The Manilla Memorial Pool was officially opened by the Honourable W. Davis Hughes M.L.A., Minister for Public Works, on Saturday 30th September 1967.

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