Memorial Park HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

Blackheath Memorial Park listing on Australian Heritage Council database http://www.ahc.gov.au/cgi-bin/register/site.pl?102234 

Blackheath Memorial Park listing on NSW Office of Environment & Heritage register http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=1172041

aerial view "swimming basin" c.1926

aerial view of Memorial Park & "swimming basin", 1926. Looking north-east from 'Frog Hollow' - C. A. Wadson collection

[scanned 2010 from original 1970s Rotary Blackheath history book, held in collection of Blackheath branch library]

Memorial Park - NSW Office of Environment & Heritage

Historical significance of Blackheath Memorial Park is documented on the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage database.

The database Statement of Significance is:
"Blackheath Memorial Park has a high degree of historic, social and aesthetic value and has been an important site in the development of the Blackheath township since the late 1860s. It has supported dams, essential in the establishment of the railway through the township, has been a golf course and since the early 1920s has provided the largest, most central and best designed reserve grounds for the local community."

Bh023 : Memorial Park listing
Bh184 : Blackheath Memorial Park War Memorial Steps listing
Bh185 : Blackheath Memorial Park Gates listing
Bh186 : Blackheath Memorial Park Pool Pavilion listing

Home of summer swimming since 1931 - 80 years young.

The Official opening took place – eighty years ago - during the 1931 Christmas holidays.  Over ensuing years many thousands of happy swimmers enjoy this special place. 

In 1935 The Katoomba Daily declared it “...the finest park and swimming pool on the mountains...” *

From the late 1870s a dam fed by natural creeks and hanging swamps was established. This was the water reservoir for steam engines reaching the highest point of the western railway crossing the Blue Mountains. After WW1 locals began showing interest in the area surrounding the dam for recreational purposes. In January 1919 the area was set aside as a reserve for recreation. In December of the same year the Blackheath Municipal Council was formed – a not unconnected event!


Two years later James Dawes, superintendent of Sydney's Centennial Park came to Blackheath to advise on the potential of the land to become a unique park. The citizens of Blackheath raised 1,000 pounds to finance development as a park. The Memorial Park was established by the community to commemorate those who lost their lives in WW1, each rhododendron planted in memory of one of the 77 Blackheath casualties. The Park it is an enduring symbol of peace, and The Pool of the healing value of water. 

Although swimming in the dam was officially prohibited, locals larrikins couldn't resist its lure hot summer days.  Gradually the former dam was recognised as having potential as a swimming pool. In 1929 Blackheath Alderman Peter Sutton called a public meeting which formed a Citizens' Committee to organise voluntary labour and raise funds. During community working bees on Wednesday afternoons and weekends the dams were cleaned out, graded to the necessary depths and the bottoms gravelled. Old railway sleepers were painted white and placed to define the embankments.

Detailed historical information is available at http://ow.ly/7dvms . 

Today Blackheath Pool is one of the most beautifully situated public swimming baths in Australia – set amongst sweeping lawns and the now mature rhododendrons, at over 1000 metres above sea level – providing swimming with altitude.


**quoted p.155 Blackheath Today from Yesterday (2005)

Blackheath Pool: eighty years an enduring symbol of Peace

Blackheath Pool and Memorial Park is in many senses the heart of the Blackheath community and a 'fragile oasis' at the top of the mountains. In the latest in a long tradition of Blackheath community activity surrounding The Pool, a three year concerted community campaign snatched Blackheath Pool from the brink of demolition. The fully renovated Pool reopened in 2006.

From the late 1870s a dam fed by natural creeks and hanging swamps was established. This was the water reservoir for steam engines reaching the highest point of the western railway crossing the Blue Mountains. After WW1 locals began showing interest in the area surrounding the dam for recreational purposes. In January 1919 the area was set aside as a reserve for recreation. In December of the same year the Blackheath Municipal Council was formed – a not unconnected event!

Two years later James Dawes, superintendent of Sydney's Centennial Park came to Blackheath to advise on the potential of the land to become a unique park. The citizens of Blackheath raised 1,000 pounds to finance development as a park. The Memorial Park was established by the community to commemorate those who lost their lives in WW1, each rhododendron planted in memory of one of the 77 Blackheath casualties. The Park it is an enduring symbol of peace, and The Pool of the healing value of water.

Although swimming was officially prohibited, locals larrikins couldn't resist the lure of the dam on hot summer days.  Gradually the former dam was recognised as having potential as a swimming pool. In 1929 Blackheath Alderman Peter Sutton called a public meeting which formed a Citizens' Committee to organise voluntary labour and raise funds. During community working bees on Wednesday afternoons and weekends the dams were cleaned out, graded to the necessary depths and the bottoms gravelled. Old railway sleepers were painted white and placed to define the embankments.

The Official opening took place - eighty years ago - during the 1931 Christmas holidays, and over ensuing years many thousands of happy swimmers enjoyed this special place.
In 1935 The Katoomba Daily declared it “...the finest park and swimming pool on the mountains” [quoted p.155 Blackheath Today from Yesterday (2005)].

Detailed historical information is available at http://ow.ly/7dvms.

Today Blackheath Pool is one of the most beautifully situated public swimming baths in Australia – set amongst sweeping lawns and the now mature rhododendrons, at over 1000 metres above sea level – providing swimming with altitude.

Blackheath Pool Opening Day Saturday 26 November 2011. Open every day of season 9:30AM to 6:30PM. Water averages a warm 23°C across the season. Request a DAY PASS which allows you to come and go as often as you like on any one day – swim early, picnic beneath the trees, swim again later.

Friends of Blackheath Pool and Memorial Park continues the community tradition – watching over this gem of the Mountains.

Have a great 
Rhododendron Festival!
Blackheath Memorial Park (& Pool) sildeshow http://ow.ly/7jDRM

[historical] The Sydney Morning Herald, 21-Dec-1936

 BLUE MOUNTAINS.

 "Playground of Australia.”

ATTRACTING TOURISTS

"The Government aims at making the Blue Mountains the playground of Australia," said the Minister for Local Government (Mr. Spooner) at a civic reception at Blackheath on Saturday. 

Mr. Spooner visited Blackheath with a four-fold object - officially to open the children's playground, in Jubilee Park, to turn the first sod of the Blackheath sewerage scheme, to switch on the electric lighting of the Memorial Park, and to inaugurate the flood-lighting of the swimming pool. 

To encourage tourists to Blue Mountains resorts, said Mr. Spooner, the Government had subsidised the Blackheath Council to the extent of £10,000 to enable works costing £20,000, comprising tar paving, road construction, park improvements, stormwater drainage construction, and provision of pleasure grounds. 

The Minister said the Government was country-minded and developmental in outlook. It was helping to develop inland towns on a subsidised basis. The health of the residents and the visitors to a district was of paramount importance. The public was entitled to protection against unhealthy or insanitary conditions, and it was a fair thing for the taxpayer generally to pay some proportion of the cost. 

The Blue Mountains, he said, were being popularised by the provision of better roads, faster train services, and the cheapening of hotel and other accommodation. 

The Mayor of Blackheath (Alderman W. Cripps), speaking at the sewerage inauguration ceremony, said the cost of the sewerage scheme was estimated at £67,000, of which the Government would contribute £25,867. A loan to cover the council liability of £41,133 was being raised. Repayment of the loan would be over a period of 45 years, in equated half-yearly instalments of principal and interest at 3J per cent, amounting to £911. The town of Blackheath had a population of 2554, and it was anticipated that, with a modern sewerage system, material progress would be shown in the future. The work would absorb 30 men immediately, and 200 in a few weeks' time. 

Among the large attendance were the former Minister for Works and Health (Mr. Weaver), the Mayor of Katoomba (Alderman W. Soper), the President of the Blue Mountains Shire (Councillor W. P. Mathews), the Deputy Mayor of Blackheath (Alderman H. P. Collier), the town clerk of Blackheath (Mr. F. C. Taylor), and the Town Clerk of Blue Mountains Shire (Mr. Pedder Scrivener). 

At a civic dinner, Councillor Mathews advocated the formation of a County Council for the Blue Mountains. 

During his visit to Blackheath Mr. Spooner, who was accompanied by Mrs. Spooner, motored to the various resorts, including Govett's Leap, the road to which: has been tar-paved. He watched the diving and swimming competitions in the flood-lit swimming pool. 

Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 21 December 1936

Retrieved 24-May-2011 from http://trove.nla.gov.au 

crowds flock to Pool for OzDay

The Pool was a popular spot yesterday.  Mid afternoon air temps topped 33C.  Patronage averaged 150 at any one time across the whole day.  What a successful Australia Day!  Former generations of proud Blackheathen Australians - who built The Pool - will be smiling on us ;)

Once upon a time...

Thanks to Philip Hay for this contribution.

Does anyone know the date?

80 YEARS YOUNG

Blackheathens will have been enjoying a swim BLACKHEATH POOL for 80 YEARS as the 2009/10 season opens!

"In 1929 The Citizen’s Committee was formed and carried out considerable amount of work by voluntary labour to convert the old upper dam into a swimming pool. Pool ready for use in the summer of 1929/30. As soon as work finished on the conversion of the old railway dam into a swimming pool a group of local residents established a swimming club. Theclub existed for nearly 50 years and conducted competitive swimming, water ballets and other types of aquatic events in the pool." excerpted from BMCC's Blackheath Memorial Park Draft Plan of Management July 2009 p.68

"A place of continuing recreational and social significance"

In 1991 Pearl Beach rock pool was heritage listed by the National Trust and provided with a heritage plaque stating that it is 'A place of continuing recreational and social significance'




more...
on Flickr photostream
on New South Wales Ocean Baths website

Blackheath Pool Historical TIMELINE

late 19th Century to early 1990s (source: Australian Heritage Commission’s ‘Register of the National Estate’)

1867 As a result of the rail crossing of the Blue Mountains, adequate and reliable water sources are sought for the steam engines. On the 11th December 1867 the catchment area lying to the north and east of Gardners Crescent and below Prince Edward Street is reserved as a water source.

1883 The first of two dams is built – this is an earth dam which now forms the present pool. The second built some years later immediately below, has a concrete wall and is now the duck pond.

1906 As a result of siltation the railways look for an alternative water supply. In 1906, the Bridal Veil Creek scheme, with the reservoir at Whitley Park is installed, the original scheme being held as a reserve supply until 1924.

1919 Local bodies begin showing interest in the area for recreational purposes. On 21st January 1919, in response to agitation by the local Progress Association, the area is set aside and notified as a Reserve for recreation. In December of the same year the Blackheath Municipal Council is formed. The area is developed as a memorial park to commemorate Australian soldiers’ participation in World War 1.

1921 James Dawes, superintendent of Centennial Park comes to Blackheath to give an address outlining the potential and suitability of the land to become a unique park. The citizens of Blackheath raise 1,000 pounds to finance the work. At this time the water reservoir is recognised as having potential of becoming a swimming pool. Although swimming is officially prohibited, locals do use the dam for swimming.

1929 Blackheath Alderman Peter Sutton calls a public meeting and which results in the formation of a Citizens' Committee.
The Committee organises voluntary labour and raises funds to purchase materials. During working bees on Wednesday afternoons and weekends the dams are cleaned out, graded to the necessary depths & the bottoms gravelled. Old railway sleepers are painted white and placed to define the embankments.

1930 Alderman Peter Sutton uses his casting vote to approve the erection of much needed dressing sheds.

1931 Official opening takes place during the Christmas holidays. It is the finest park and swimming pool on the mountains and over ensuing years many thousands of people come to the park and pool.

1935 The Minister for Local Government and Works, The Honourable E. S. Spooner, provides a grant of 850 pounds - 500 pounds used to concrete the upper pool and the balance used to transform the lower dam into an ornamental lake surrounded by grassed picnic areas.

1938 The State Government provides funds to build the present sheds and kiosk on the basis that no charge is made for the pool or dressing sheds. The Honourable E. S. Spooner M.L. A. opens the buildings on May 18th, 1938.

1939 The Clubhouse and Ambulance Station built from materials donated or scrounged from local business.

1958 Chlorination plant installed

1960’s Local Rotarians sponsor the construction of the wrought iron play equipment, designed by local welder Mr. Dick West. The equipment includes a rocket ship twenty feet high.

1964 Current pool shells constructed

1987 September: report to Council recommending closure of all pools but Glenbrook & Katoomba

1988 April: five year contract for private pool management signed

1991 7 November: public meeting of concern for pool
11 November: Blackheath Swimming Pool Committee formed

last twenty years

1992 June: Westpool insists on 2 metre fence for insurance reasons August: fence development application lodged

October: fence proposal passed by Council

December: rumours that pool shells are failing

1993 Mahaffey Report on Pool integrity

1997 $400,000 NSW State Government Grant & refurbishments. Filtration system upgraded & black pool filled-in.

2002 Blackheath Memorial Park & Gardens Advisory Committee (BMP&GAC) seeks to liaise with BMCC on Pool issues.

BMCC closes Olympic Pool for the 2002/3 swimming season due to water loss

2003 BMCC engages consultants John Wilson and Partners (JWP) to do structural & geotechnical assessment of Pool & surrounds. Resulting report identifies OH&S problems & contravention of EPA guidelines (contaminated ‘leak water’ being released into Popes Glen Creek). BMCC closes entire Pool complex throughout 2003/4 swimming season as a result.

2004 26 January: Australia Day – Blackheath Pool Party called by concerned citizens, to protest the closure of entire Pool complex

27 January: BMCC resolves to remediate/reconstruct the Olympic pool, to remediate ‘Free-Form’ pool floor and to install a new compliant water treatment system AND agrees to the role, format and composition of the suggested Blackheath Pool Advisory Group (BPAG).

30 June: Tender for the design & construction/refurbishment of The Blackheath Swimming Pools advertised.

1 July: Initial BPAG meeting

2005 May: Reconstruction work begins

2006 25 February: Pool Re-opens (repaired freeform & toddlers pool, newly-constructed half-Olympic pool)

2007 1 May: first meeting of Friends of Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park  

More information on the history of Blackheath Pool:
· available at http://www.ahc.gov.au/cgi-bin/register/site.pl?102234 (Australian Heritage Council database on-line);
· and in the books ‘Historic Blackheath’, Rotary Club of Blackheath, Blue Mountains City Council, 1976; ‘Grandfather Worked on the Pool’, Nance Smith, 1996; ‘Blackheath today from yesterday’ P.C. Rickwood & D.J. West, WriteLight P/L for Rotary Club of Blackheath, 2005.

SEVEN YEARS AGO

Press Release [*28 January 2004*]

COMMUNITY ACTION SAVES POOL

A unanimous decision by Council at it’s 27 January meeting has secured the future of Blackheath Pool. The Olympic Pool is to be reconstructed, a new water treatment system installed and toddlers will have shade cover. Crucial to community concerns was the retention of the ‘free-from’ pool. Council has undertaken to repair & remediate this pool too. The public gallery was crowded to overflowing at last night’s Council meeting to hear five speakers in favour of Blackheath Pool - Owen Kelly, Libby Sorby-Adams, Lisa Armitage, Dick Harris & Doug Spiller.

The meeting followed Australia Day’s highly successful ‘Blackheath Pool Party’. More than 500 local residents & supporters gathered at Blackheath Pool for rather unusual Australia Day celebration – a Pool Party without a Pool!! The event highlighted Council’s closure of the pool complex this swimming season. Speakers told of the great affection Blackheath community has for its Pool, and underscored its critical value to the social fabric of the town. “It’s not just a swimming pool, it’s the social heart of our village” said Lisa Armitage, “we’re angry and confused – they’re just bamboozling us!”

At last night’s meeting Councillor Terri Hamilton presented a petition of more than 1,500 signatures and 180 letters of complaint to Michael Willis from concerned Blackheath residents & visitors. The result of her amended motion at Council was that the Olympic Pool is expected to open for next swimming season. “We’re happy with this result” said Simon Hare an organiser of the Pool Party, “but we recognise that though this battle is won, we must keep a watching brief on progress”.