Kiama - Pheasant Point Baths (Kiama Ladies Baths, Kiama Olympic Pool)

This pool is located on the rock platform at Pheasant Point on the north side of Kiama Harbour. It has had ocean baths since the 1870s. 

For more detailed history, read on after the photos. 

31 Jan 2013

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History from NSW Ocean Baths site

1875 The NSW Lands Department granted a site for public baths on the north side of Kiama harbour in 1875 for an annual rental of one pound. 1877 A Kiama bathing company opened baths consisting of two rock pools surrounded with a concrete edging at Pheasant Point. The charge of tuppence a bath was supposed to pay the keeper of the baths and maintain the pool. Separate specified bathing hours for males and females, created such  'confusion and ill feeling' among Kiama residents, that the baths were soon designated as solely for use by women and children. 1894 The Kiama Progress Association erected a dressing-shed at the Ladies Baths. 1900 A NSW government grant was sought to improve the Ladies Baths. 1904 Ladies, gentlemen and children attended a swimming carnival for girls at the Ladies Baths. 1905 The Illawarra Steam Navigation Company's handbook touted Kiama's separate commodious saltwater baths for ladies and gentlemen as attractions for visitors. 1908 The Ladies Baths (90 feet by 45 feet) had a concrete bottom, were furnished with a suite of more than 20 dressing-rooms and included a large open reception area. There were children's baths alongside the main pool. 1910 The Ladies Baths were damaged by heavy seas. Kiama Council moved to draw the trustees' attention to the large number of men hovering in the vicinity of the Ladies Baths, when the ladies were 'indulging in a swim'. After a report that two men had thrown stones down to the Baths from the cliffs when ladies were bathing, the Mayor decided to prosecute persons annoying ladies at the Baths. 1923 Kiama's Blow Hole Point Baths and its Pheasant Point Baths were both well patronised. 1924 The Ladies Baths were invaded by male visitors during holidays. While consideration was being given to creating continental baths for Kiama, Council prohibited mixed bathing until the 'proper sheds' existed. Men kept using the Ladies Baths to teach their children to swim and whenever the men's baths at Kiama's Blow Hole Point were unavailable. 1927 Minor improvements were made to the Ladies Baths. 1930 Segregated bathing at Kiama's Ladies Baths was still attractive to visitors, even though continental bathing had been available at set hours at the Blow Hole Point Baths since 1928. 1934 Construction of Olympic-sized continental baths (mixed bathing) baths at Pheasant Point began as an unemployment relief project, halted when the funds ran out, then resumed with NSW government funding as part of an overall program of town improvement works. Fill from the baths was used to enlarge the playing area on School Flat near the Kiama Infants School. Over the holiday season, the surf club's beach inspectors supervised the incomplete Olympic baths which had been equipped with temporary conveniences and dressing-sheds. 1935 The Olympic Baths (110 yards long and 40 yards wide) had cost over 2,000 pounds in emergency relief work. 1936 Work on the Olympic Baths was at a standstill. Railway Touring Club members patronised the Olympic Baths during their visit to Kiama. 1937 The diving hole at the Olympic Baths was nearly complete. 1938 The concreted part of the divided Olympic Baths already held 400,000 gallons of water. The Olympic Baths were so popular with sunbakers that bike-riding near the Olympic Baths was prohibited to prevent disturbing sunbakers. 1940 Dressing sheds were added to the Olympic Baths, then Kiama's premier swimming venue. The full vision for Kiama's Olympic Baths was never realised. 1958 Kiama's swimming club wearied of the difficulties of staging competitions at the Pheasant Pool Olympic pool. Pumps shifted water 'from the pool at the far end into the pool at the near end' to provide enough water for the annual Kiama District Swimming Club carnival. Mid-1970s Kiama Council demolished the walls of the Pheasant Point Ladies Baths. 1980s Kiama Council filled in one of the Pheasant Point pools. In 1982, the Kiama Amateur Swimming Club was still swimming at the Olympic pool pending completion of a 25-metre indoor pool under construction in the Terralong Sports Complex. With the opening of Kiama's inland aquatic centre in the 1980s, the Olympic baths ceased to be Kiama's main competition and training venue. Like the Blowhole Baths, the Pheasant Point Baths once more became primarily a recreational facility and social centre. 2004 The pool offers wheelchair access.