Crawley Baths, Public swimming facility in Matilda Bay, Western Australia.
Crawley Baths was a wooden swimming complex built directly into the Swan River in Perth, featuring 106 dressing boxes, two pontoons, springboards, and a moveable grandstand positioned along Mounts Bay Road. The design allowed swimmers to enjoy the natural bay while providing modern infrastructure for training and competitive events.
The facility opened in February 1914 under Premier John Scaddan and remained in operation until 1964, when Beatty Park was completed for the Commonwealth Games. This transition marked the end of an era of public bathing in the bay and shifted swimming activities to a modern stadium facility.
The facility served as Perth's primary gathering place for swimmers across several decades and shaped how generations of Western Australians experienced water recreation. The location held special meaning in the city's daily life, functioning as a social hub that went far beyond its practical purpose.
The former site is marked by a bronze statue named Eliza standing in the Swan River near Mounts Bay Road, serving as a point of reference for visitors. This waterfront location remains easily accessible from the road, allowing you to stand at the same spot and imagine the former swimming complex.
During its operating years, the facility contained the largest enclosed water space in the Southern Hemisphere, making it an engineering landmark for Perth. This remarkable achievement meant swimmers could enjoy competitive and recreational water activities in an unprecedented scale for the region.
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