Swimming pools are popular additions to Sydney backyards, offering a great way for families and friends of all ages to enjoy the city’s beautiful climate throughout most of the year. However, purchasing and installing a pool isn’t a simple investment, with many important considerations to take into account. Here is everything you need to know about sidney pools before making a decision to buy or build one.
Sydney’s rocky coastline provides a number of locations for what Kate Rew describes as ‘wild swimming’ – swimming in natural environments that are less subject to human control than indoor public pools or tidal pools. Serene at low tide and choppy at high, ocean pools offer an openness to the sea, beach and sky that appeals to swimmers, artists and beachgoers alike.
The earliest ocean pools were built on Sydney’s surf beaches in the 1890s to provide recreational and competitive swimming venues and to help prevent dangerous rip currents. Almost all of these pools are now fenced off, but many remain popular with locals for swimming and sunbaking. The pools also provided an ideal venue for a range of social activities, including club swimming carnivals and sand-diving events. These were particularly popular with women, whose participation in club swimming was novel in colonial Australia.
In the interwar years, ocean pools were used to extend the reach of swim schools to country areas. During this time, members of Sydney’s surf clubs and amateur swimming associations visited country towns to conduct free learn-to-swim sessions. The popularity of these programs led to the establishment of a network of rural aquatic centres and the development of new, innovative water safety training methods.
Many Sydney residents choose to install a private pool in their backyard, and there are plenty of builders that specialise in designing and building custom-made pools. However, it’s important to determine how you’ll be using your pool before hiring a contractor. Do you plan to use it primarily for leisurely recreation or intense workouts? Will the primary users be children, adults or a mix of both? This information will help you find a Sydney pool builder who can create a pool that meets your needs.
When considering whether to purchase or build a pool, it’s also advisable to consider the potential cost of running and maintenance. While it’s true that a pool can be more expensive to run than a comparable home, there are ways to make your investment as cost-effective as possible. For example, a solar heating system can significantly reduce your energy bill.
When choosing a pool builder, it’s important to make sure they’re licensed and insured. If you are having any work done on your pool that costs more than $5,000, it’s a legal requirement for the contractor to have insurance. The builder’s licence should be clearly displayed at their premises, and they should be able to provide you with proof of their coverage. This will ensure that you’re working with a reputable, trustworthy builder.