Harold Holt Swim Centre Harold Holt Swim Centre

The Harold Holt Swim Centre (or the Harold Holt Pool as locals call it) has been officially reopened following a $13.3m redevelopment.

- Reception - located on the ground floor, enter via Edgar Street
- Outdoor 50m pool
- Indoor 25m pool
- Studio 1 - fitness classes
- Learners' pool - learn to swim lessons
- Leisure pool - fun aquatic play with water features
- Indoor toddlers' pool
- Hydrotherapy pool - in water ramp
- Accessible change rooms (conveniently located next to the hydro pool)
- Indoor female and male change rooms
- Sauna (indoor spa opening soon)

Buildings constructed in the Brutalist style are usually formed with blockish, geometric, and repetitive shapes. Concrete is often the key construction material.

History of Harold Holt Swim Centre

In 1924, Council voted to build Malvern's first Municipal Baths. The proposed location (a redundant tip site), located at the corner of High and Edgar Streets, was strongly supported as a location by the Education Department who envisaged the implementation of the 'learn to swim' campaign. The Malvern Baths was designed by the City Engineer, Barton Coutie, using ideas from overseas. Built at a cost of £10,476, the baths included a wedge shaped pool and bathing boxes. The Malvern Baths were officially opened by the Mayor Cr. Harry Wilmot, in November 1927.

By the early 1960s the facilities were declared 'inadequate and outmoded' and in 1966 Malvern Council commissioned architects Kevin Borland and Daryl Jackson to design a new swimming complex. The centre consisted of five pools, with the focal point being the large glass walled building enclosing a 25 metre pool and beginners' pool, which enabled year-long swimming, coaching and training. Outside, the main Olympic pool was the first pool in Australia designed to metric standards.

The new pool was to be named the City of Malvern Olympic Swimming Centre, however following the tragic death at sea in December 1967 of Malvern's local member and Prime Minister of Australia, the new pool was named the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre. The Centre was opened by the Prime Minister, John Gorton in March 1969.

The building, now classified by the National Trust, is considered to be among the most notable examples of Brutalist architecture, a style adopted in the 1960s. The Harold Holt Swim Centre remains one of Melbourne's most popular aquatic facilities.

Opening Hours (year round)
Mon - Thurs: 5.45am - 8.45pm
Fri: 5.45am - 7.45pm
Sat: 6am - 6.45pm
Sun: 7am - 6.45pm

* Public Holidays: 8am - 6pm, closed Christmas Day and Good Friday

❊ Address ❊

 ⊜  Corner High Street and Edgar Street Glen Iris 3146 View Map
 ✆ Telephone: +61 (3) 8290 1678

---

❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Harold Holt Swim Centre 

➼ www.stonnington.vic.gov.au

➼ Wikipedia listing about Harold Holt

➼ Victorian Heritage Register

➼ Heritage listing for 'brutal' Holt centre - National - theage.com.au

❊ Also See.. ❊

➼ Harold Holt







Update Page