Wylie's Bath Archives

Wylie’s Baths in Coogee Now Solar-Powered!

Wylie’s Baths in Coogee, one of Sydney’s oldest and most beautiful ocean tidal pools, now has a new solar powered system, allowing the facility to significantly reduce its CO2 emissions and overall carbon footprint.

The installation of 35 12.25-kW panels will provide Wylie’s Baths’ visitors with clean green energy that is equivalent to the reduction of about five cars on the road. It will also save the facility some $5,000 per year in utility bills.

The Coogee tidal pool solar project is an offshoot of the Solar My Suburb initiative which has the full support of the various Councils in Randwick, Waverley, and Woollahra.

Solar My Suburb is open to any organisation providing community services within the Eastern Suburbs such as sport clubs, RSL clubs, bowling clubs, synagogues, hospitals, churches, charities and other community organisations with a ‘not for profit’ status. These organisations may be assisted in securing government incentives and grants to fund the cost of their solar systems. The assessment process takes 6 to 12 months.

Those who join the program will also get the following benefits:

Get free expert advice valued at over $6,000
Save money on energy bills
Access to cheaper green energy
Reduce your organisations’ carbon footprint
Demonstrate leadership to members, patrons, and community

Additionally, Eastern Suburbs locals may also check the Council’s specific initiatives to get solar power in homes or businesses:

Randwick Council	Sustainability Rebates Program
Waverley Council	Solar My Strata Program
Woollahra Council	Apartment & Strata Energy Savings Program

It comes as the Councils commit to run 100 per cent solar energy in many of its operating public sites through a deal brokered by Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) with ZEN Energy. The agreement will commence by 1 July 2022 until 2026.

“This is a landmark energy deal for local government. As electricity usage makes up about 60% of our total greenhouse gas emissions, this is a significant step in reducing our emissions as we transition to net zero emissions,” Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said.

“It shows the collective power of local government to work together to deliver real savings and sustainability benefits for our communities.

“It also delivers on our goal of procuring 100% renewable energy three years ahead of our target date.”

Public Pools, Including Wylie’s Bath in Coogee, Reopen in NSW

Did you know that outdoor public pools in NSW, such as Wylie’s Bath in Coogee, have been allowed to reopen, including in areas of concern where the lockdown restrictions are still in effect?

The decision to reopen these public recreation sites, to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, came after the mayors from 12 local government areas (LGAs) appealed to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. The NSW Government has updated its guidelines to include the opening of public pools.

“From Monday 27 September 2021, you will be able to resume swimming at outdoor public pools either within your local government area or within 5km of your home,” the new guideline reads.

Councils with public pools are expected to enforce a stringed COVID-19 safety plan based on the recommendations of NSW Health.

In a press conference a week prior to the reopening, Berejiklian said that the state’s encouraging vaccination rate for the over 16 years old was a factor in the decision. As of mid-September 2021, NSW has reached 81.9 percent (first dose) and 51.9 percent (second dose).

“As a result of these positive signs, the New South Wales Government is pleased to announce that from next Monday, all public pools will be open in a COVID-safe way,” the premier said.

“And those COVID-safe plans will be formalised and made public, making sure that we keep community safe as much as possible and prevent seeding, and that all of us appreciate the importance of enjoying the warmer weather and the positive mental health and recreation and exercise.”

In Coogee, Wylie’s Bath has initiated the selling of season passes for 2021/2022. Employment opportunities have also reopened as the public pool is expected to have many visitors for the summer.

However, Wylie’s Bath will not reopen on 27 and 28 September due to a private event on Monday and a “weather hold” on Tuesday. The site was booked for a photoshoot on the 27th, which will help with the public pool’s maintenance fund whilst Tuesday’s opening will hinge on the conditions in the water. Visitors may keep tabs by checking the official site for the announcements.

Meanwhile, visitors to the outdoor pools will be asked to show proof of residence. They must be within the five-kilometre range of the site. QR code app check-ins will also be required whilst the facility will strictly follow a limited capacity. Mask wearing is mandatory except when swimming, eating, or drinking.

Wylie’s Baths Upgrade Completed in Time for Summer

Upgrades to the Wylie’s Baths Rock Pool in Coogee have been completed as the summer season approaches. Work done on the public pool took over 100 days but the effort and improvements have been worth the wait.

The community pool closed in mid-May for the installation of new valves vital to the pool’s maintenance. Demolition of the existing stars and the replacement of compliant concrete stairs were also undertaken, along with several much-needed repairs.

“We’ve taken this closure period as an opportunity to do some cleaning, sanding, painting, pressure washing, stair-building, valve-installing, leak-plugging, gardening, scrubbing, reviewing, organising, pest-controlling, irrigating, sewer pump servicing, urinal repairing, roof-sealing, sanding, painting, sanding, painting, sanding, and painting,” the Wylie’s Bath staff posted on social media. “We’re pretty stoked with the results so far and we think you will be too!”

This undertaking was possible with the collaboration of The Wylie’s Baths Trust, Randwick City Council and the contractors from Antoun Civil, along with other tradespeople from GardenLink, Venice Projects, Men In White Painting, GJ Electrical, ESS, The Lone Drainer & Pronto.

The Council shared the video of its completed redevelopment on its Facebook page:

The tidal pool, built in 1907 by Henry Wylie, was where Wilhelmina Wylie, Henry’s daughter, and Sarah Durack trained to swim. They went on to become the first Australian Olympic female swimming champions.

Alteration and repairs of Wylie’s Baths were undertaken several times to maintain and preserve the site, given the harshness of the sea environment. In 2003, the state recognized Wylie’s Baths as a heritage site.

For More Than a Century, Wylie’s Baths Remains Significant to Coogee and Sydney Locals

Photo Credit: John Jones/Flickr

A few metres down Coogee Beach lies the famous Wylie’s Bath. Nestled on the cliff’s rocky terrain, this community pool is one of the most recognizable, significant, and historical ocean swimming baths in Sydney. It’s no wonder it has been listed as a heritage site.

Visitors to Wylie Baths come for a relaxing swim at the 50-metre pool or for a chat with other guests at the kiosks as they enjoy their coffee and snacks. Some go to Wylie Baths to join the regular swimming lessons and fitness or wellness classes organized by different groups every week.

Qualified and trained masseuse are also on site to indulge the visitors with soothing massages. If the guests don’t want to swim, however, they may look around at the nearby shops for some merchandise and other products.

People do all of these relaxing activities at the Wylie Baths, while experiencing the very best view of the Pacific Ocean from the coastline.

Who Owns Wylie Baths?

In 1907, champion underwater swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie built the baths where his daughter, Wilhelmina “Mina” Wylie, trained with Fanny Durack as Australia’s Olympic representatives. They were the first women n the history of the sports competition to win gold and silver for swimming.

Mina Wylie is the first woman to win a silver medal in swimming at the Olympics.
Photo Credit: *State Library NSW*

Wylie was able to secure a special lease for the baths and added change rooms and a timber boardwalk by the cliff a few years later. In 1959, Desmond Selby took over the lease at a time when Wylie’s Bath showed signs of dilapidation. Mr Selby renamed the facility as Sunstrip Pool, extended the boardwalk, and built kiosks around the site.

The Wylie’s Bath in the 1950s
Photo Credit: *State Library NSW*

Frequent storms in the ’70s caused severe damage to the baths, prompting Mr Selby to close the facilities. By 1978, the Randwick Council took ownership and reinstated the site to its original name.

With the help of architects Keith Cottier and Allen Jack, Wylie’s Bath underwent a major renovation in the early ’90s under the Council’s management. Today, it is managed by the Wylie’s Baths Trust.

Why is Wylie’s Baths Significant?

Aside from its close association to the women Olympic swimmers, Wylie’s Bath is important to Coogee and Sydney’s history because it is:

the first mixed-gender bath pool in Australia
the first recreation facility for the public in Coogee
the site of the first Australian Swimming Championships

Today, various swim clubs from Coogee, Marouba and Randwick use Wylie’s Baths.