The History of the Granville Olympic Pool
The Granville Olympic Pool was constructed c.1935 and opened on Saturday 10th October 1936. The pool is reputed too have replaced the local duck pond. The increasing levels of pollution of Sydney’s waterways led to the construction of local swimming pools by local councils. Local kids swam informally in Duck Creek.

Four Olympic sized pools were constructed in Sydney in the 1930s; Enfield and Bankstown built c.1933, North Sydney (c.1935/36), Granville (1936). The RNE listing for the North Sydney Olympic Pool notes that: ‘others were proposed and at least seven harbourside pools were remodeled, a phenomenon directly related to swimming’s dominance as a sport during the decade, as well as to Australia’s success at the 1932 Los Angeles Games. Public recognition of the community benefits of public swimming pools also developed.’

The Olympic pools were very popular with local residents. The first Olympic pool at Enfield’s popularity was such that in Building of December 12 1933 it was noted ‘The fact that 27,000 people have paid admission in the first 14 days speaks for itself…there is little doubt that the Enfield Olympic Swimming Pool is destined to whet the appetites of the less fortunate people in other areas where there is no delightful pool in which they may have a quick and refreshing plunge at any time of the day and night.’2

The proposed complex at Granville is described in detail in the June 12 1935 issue of Building: ‘The main pool, similar to that at North Sydney, is designed to comply in all respects with standard Olympic conditions. It is 50 ft wide and 165 feet long, permitting a maximum number of starters under international conditions. It is bounded on three sides by a low and high level concourse and on the northern side by a high level concourse only. Situated at the southern end of the main pool is a separate diving pool with a maximum depth of 16 feet 6 inches and a minimum of 11 feet, around which are diving platforms and a high diving tower. Chutes and novelties are also provided for carnival periods. There is also a children’s pool. . . .

The elevation was also included, with the following description: ‘Simple massing has appropriately been employed upon the lengthy façade of the proposed new Granville Olympic Swimming Pool. The cement panels, enriched with ornament are a feature of the walls that connect the main walls with the wings. Rudder and Grout are the architects.’

A perspective was published in Decoration and Glass, June 1936. The perspective shows two Cedars of Lebanon flanking the entrance and other mature trees. The builders were Kell and Rigby.

The official opening carnival included Bonnie Mealing, an Australian Olympic Games representative, Pat Norton who represented Australia at the infamous Berlin Olympics, the NSW Diving Troop, a troop that included local boy J. McCann and the future Mrs Whitlam, Margaret Dovey. The Whitlam children Nick and Kathy also swam at the Granville Pool, Nick Whitlam winning the 55 yards breaststroke at state level. A learn to swim project was instigated by the Parramatta Marist Brothers School. The Australian swimming champion John Devitt was amongst those boys who learnt to swim at Granville as was Paul Hogan, who was a member of the Parramatta City Amateur Swimming Club.

The holding of an Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 allowed large numbers of Australian sportsmen to participate in competition at an international level, without making the time consuming journey to the northern hemisphere. Competitors used to travel to international competitions by ocean liner, making training regimes difficult to maintain. Australia has continued to maintain a high level of success in swimming at Olympic level. Of the competitive sports undertaken at an international level it is the water sports in Australia that have a long history of both male and female champions. Sydney-wide competitions were held at Granville, with swimmers travelling from the coastal suburbs of the Northern Beaches, Cronulla and Rose Bay to compete.

Subsequent modifications include the addition of a second pool in 1957 and the heating of the main pool in 1973. In 1988 the pool was dedicated to local swimming champion John Devitt, and a number of those who swam at the pool as youngsters returned, including Margaret Whitlam, Nick Whitlam, and Paul Hogan. Other celebrities present at the festivities included Devitt himself, Dawn Fraser and Jon Hendricks.

The main façade is of blond brick, with red brick banding and piers to the central entrance. The vents to the each of the changing rooms are also brick, with air gaps. The pitched roofs of the side wings are clad with red tiles, the roof of the central portion is flat. The upper section of the parapet to the central portion has re-entrant corners, with banded brick detailing. Red bricks are also used for the central vertical element. The banding detail of the north and south wall of the dressing sheds is continued in the rendered panel and shallow curved wall at each end of the pool.

Separate pavilions, located on the opposite side of the pool housed the Men’s and Women’s club. The pool equipment and Men’s Club Room remains intact, the Women’s Club Room has been demolished apparently to allow access to the 1957 pool. The club rooms were opposite the changing rooms, men at the northern end, women to the south. Only one of the original terraced grandstands survives, to the north east of the main pool. The original seating has been removed and replaced with aluminium benches. The terraces allowed for spectators at competition events.

The two initial pools are reinforced concrete and retain their original glazed tiles, including markings to the lanes and for the distances. A level concrete apron surrounds the swimming pools. The later lap pool (1957) is located in the south east corner.

The main pavilion is constructed of blond face brick, with a series of rendered panels to the two end walls, including the shallow curves. The composition was originally symmetrical about the central entrance pavilion. The landscaping shown in the original perspective mirrored this symmetry however it would appear that mature trees were retained. The radiating layout of paths survives.

Evidence of the original layout of the entrance pavilion survives, including the tiles to the entry counter, the honour boards and plaque and the light fittings. Modifications include tiling to the floor of the entrance pavilion and the construction of a disabled ramp. Other facilities such as a BBQ and a children’s playground have been constructed in the park.

Past changes
The pool complex originally had a separate diving pool with a maximum depth of 16 feet 6 inches and a minimum of 11 feet around which were diving platforms and a high diving tower. Chutes and novelties were provided for carnivals. There was also a children’s pool. The diving tower was removed ‘due to the danger of inexperienced people using the tower’ [Granville Municipal Baths, extract from Granville from Forest to Factory, 1991, p87]

The swimming pool and its park setting is the most intact NSW Olympic Pool complex from this period. The entry pavilions and side walling in decorative brickwork is a good example of the Interwar Functionalist style with Art Deco detailing . The original 50m pool’s underwater lighting and tilework including the specially designed edge detailing with depths and distances marked in tiles and lane numbers above and below the water line are intact.

It is one of the earliest Olympic swimming pools built by local councils to provide amenities for the residents reflecting the growing popularity of swimming not only as an Olympic sport but also as a family leisure activity.

A number of state and national champions, including Olympian John Devitt, after whom the pool was dedicated in 1988, Barry Darke, Barry Kelloway, Sue Costin, Julian Carroll, Colleen Pettiford, Colin Heckenburg and Robbie Griffiths trained at Granville. John Devitt won Silver in the 100m freestyle at the 1956 Melbourne games and Gold in the same event in Rome in 1960.