Tobruk Memorial Baths

The Tobruk Memorial Baths is a complex of outdoor swimming pools on The Strand, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is operated by the Townsville City Council.[1][2]

Facilities

The Tobruk Memorial Baths features a 50-metre Olympic-size swimming pool, a 25-metre heated pool used for children's swimming, lessons and physiotherapy and a toddlers pool. There is an on-site kiosk.[1] The facade is a vibrant blue-and-white art deco design.[2]

History

Tobruk Memorial Baths was opened in 1950.[3] The baths are significant as Australia’s most substantial public memorial to the Australians who fought and died during the Siege of Tobruk, a coastal town on the edge of the Libyan Desert, from 9 April to 13 December 1941.[4]

Because of the warmer climate, the Tobruk Memorial Baths were used as a training venue for the Australian swimming squad for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and 1960 Rome Olympic Games.[2][5] Team members include Australian swimming legends Dawn Fraser, Murray Rose and Lorraine Crapp.[4] Six world records and 13 Australian records were set there in one night in 1956,[6][7] with the footage featured on the first day of television broadcast in Melbourne. Training camps were also held prior to the Cardiff Commonwealth Games in 1958, and for the women's Olympic Team in 1964.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Townsville City Council website: Tobruk Memorial Baths
  2. 1 2 3 The Australian: Treasured pearls of the past
  3. ↑ Townsville City Council: Chronological history of Townsville, 1901 to 1969
  4. 1 2 Queensland Heritage: Queensland's Swimming Pool Heritage
  5. ↑ Laurie Lawrence Biography
  6. ↑ Sport Australia Hall of Fame: Frank Guthrie
  7. ↑ Olympic Museum - Sydney Olympic Torch Relay
  8. ↑

Coordinates: 19°15′12″S 146°49′11″E / 19.2534°S 146.8197°E / -19.2534; 146.8197

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