(Image taken on 24 June 2007. Author’s own collection. 2016 storms damaged the graceful sculptures)

The first ocean pool north of Sydney Harbour is located in Manly’s Cabbage Tree Bay, the Fairy Bower pool is tiny, triangular and graced by two sculptures. It’s one of the smallest public ocean pools not specifically built for children and much younger than the earliest sea pools on Manly’s harbour beach.

This pool is ankle-deep at the eastern end and reaches a maximum depth of 1.5 metres against the western end. Its shape and sculptures make it attractive for photographers and for visitors strolling down from The Corso and round to Manly’s Shelly Beach.

Location
Bower Lane, Manly, NSW, 2095, Australia
(Latitude South 33 degrees 48 minutes 03 seconds, Longitude East 151 degrees 17 minutes 40 seconds)

Historical notes
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(Image taken in September 2001. Author’s own collection.)

Located at the north end of Queenscliff Beach, a pleasant walk north from Manly Beach. This pool is a shallow and has sides that are not parallel, but is still a serious swimming pool (50-metre by 14-metre) with marked lanes and a swimming club building. The pool is cut into the rock platform and has formed concrete walls on all sides.

Location
North Steyne, Queenscliff, NSW, 2096, Australia
(Latitude South 33 degrees 47 minutes 11 seconds, Longitude East 151 degrees 17 minutes 22 seconds)

Historical notes
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(Image taken in September 2001. Author’s own collection.)

Freshwater Beach at the northern end of Harbord’s Freshwater Beach has an 8-lane, 50-metre seawater pool with a uniform shallow depth just over a metre, thick concrete walls to all four sides and no subsidiary children’s or wading pools. Constructed on an excavated rock platform and with tiered seating along the full length of the pool.

Location

Lumsdane Drive, Harbord, NSW, 2096, Australia
(Latitude South 33 degrees 46 minutes 54 seconds, Longitude East 151 degrees 17 minutes 40 seconds)

See also

Freshwater Amateur Swimming Club – Facebook page

Harbord Frigid Frogs Winter Swimming Club

Historical notes

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(Image taken in September 2001. Author’s own collection.)

A 50-metre, tidally flushed pool at South Curl Curl Beach. Close to Stewart House on Carrington Parade. Home to a range of clubs. This rock pool  offers a 50-metre pool  and a  shallower section largely formed by rock. This pool is a popular subject for photographers.

Location
Carrington Parade, South  Curl Curl, NSW, 2096, Australia
(Latitude South 33 degrees 46 minutes 28 seconds, Longitude East 151 degrees 17 minutes 37 seconds)

Historical notes
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(Image taken in June 2007. Author’s own collection.)

A 32-metre by 20-metre  rectangular, tidally flushed pool with two rock outcrops  forming islands within the pool. Sited on a natural rock shelf with the rock itself forming one side of the pool. Located at the end of a long scenic trek from the surf club and carpark at North Curl Curl Beach.

Location
Huston Parade, North Curl Curl, NSW, 2099, Australia
(Latitude South 33 degrees 46 minutes 03 seconds, Longitude East 151 degrees 18 minutes  07 seconds)

Historical notes
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