Clarence Aquatic Centre
Encyclopedia
The Clarence Aquatic Centre is a major aquatic sporting facility located in Montagu Bay, in the city of Clarence, Tasmania
, Australia
.
The facility originally opened in 1963 as the Clarence War Memorial Pool, an outdoor 50-metre pool, with a children's wading pool and a toddler's splash pool. The pool was also surrounded by pleasant gardens. It had a large uncovered grandstand, which was exposed to the elements. Despite the quality of the facility at the time, it had to close for a winter break, due to its uncovered nature.
In 1982 it was decided to cover the pool to allow it to operate year round. Rather than building a permanent roof, the council opted to erect an inflatable canvas and synthetic "bubble", which was to provide protection from weather and allow the pool to operate during the evening.
The new "Bubble", as it became affectionately known, proved extremely popular, and it was decided not to lower it during the summer season as previously planned. The large white dome soon became a well known feature of the Eastern Shore landscape, and was clearly visible to motorists as they crossed the Tasman Bridge
.
During the 1980s and 1990s the Clarence Pool was the only indoor Olympic-sized pool in the state and was probably the premier facility for aquatic sports. It hosted the Tasmanian Swimming Championships on several occasions and was home to many other sports, such as water polo
, underwater hockey
, canoe polo
and fin swimming.
Because the bubble was not intended to be permanently inflated, its life expectancy was dramatically reduced, and it famously split a seam during an evening swimming competition whilst its internal grandstands were filled with spectators. No one was injured in the incident, but it closed the pool for a period whilst repairs were made. It was realised towards the end of the 1990s that the bubble was coming to an end of its useful life after nearly 20 years.
Following the Hobart City Council's redevelopment of their pool into the Hobart Aquatic Centre
, the Clarence City Council decided to modernise the Clarence Pool. In 2002 the bubble was finally removed, and in 2003 the facility closed for an 11-month, A$
2.8 million refurbishment programme. A modern and energy-efficient permanent building was constructed to replace the bubble, enclosing the 50-metre Olympic pool, the children's wading pool, and the toddler's splash pool. New non-slip deck surfacing was laid, and the changing facilities were renovated; new lighting and heating and better disabled access were also included in the renovation.
The YMCA
was granted a contract for the management of the facility when it re-opened in 2004. They run aquatic education, junior flippa ball, aqua aerobics, adult education and water safety programmes.
The Clarence Aquatic Centre is also the home pool of the Clarence Crocs Waterpolo Club.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The facility originally opened in 1963 as the Clarence War Memorial Pool, an outdoor 50-metre pool, with a children's wading pool and a toddler's splash pool. The pool was also surrounded by pleasant gardens. It had a large uncovered grandstand, which was exposed to the elements. Despite the quality of the facility at the time, it had to close for a winter break, due to its uncovered nature.
In 1982 it was decided to cover the pool to allow it to operate year round. Rather than building a permanent roof, the council opted to erect an inflatable canvas and synthetic "bubble", which was to provide protection from weather and allow the pool to operate during the evening.
The new "Bubble", as it became affectionately known, proved extremely popular, and it was decided not to lower it during the summer season as previously planned. The large white dome soon became a well known feature of the Eastern Shore landscape, and was clearly visible to motorists as they crossed the Tasman Bridge
Tasman Bridge
The Tasman Bridge is a five-lane bridge crossing the Derwent River, near the CBD of Hobart, Tasmania. The bridge has a total length of 1,395 metres . It provides the main traffic route from the CBD to the eastern shore - particularly Hobart International Airport and Bellerive Oval...
.
During the 1980s and 1990s the Clarence Pool was the only indoor Olympic-sized pool in the state and was probably the premier facility for aquatic sports. It hosted the Tasmanian Swimming Championships on several occasions and was home to many other sports, such as water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
, underwater hockey
Underwater hockey
Underwater hockey is a global non-contact sport in which two teams compete to maneuver a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into goals.-Play:...
, canoe polo
Canoe polo
Canoe Polo is a competitive ball sport played on water, in a defined "field", between two teams of 5 players, each in a kayak...
and fin swimming.
Because the bubble was not intended to be permanently inflated, its life expectancy was dramatically reduced, and it famously split a seam during an evening swimming competition whilst its internal grandstands were filled with spectators. No one was injured in the incident, but it closed the pool for a period whilst repairs were made. It was realised towards the end of the 1990s that the bubble was coming to an end of its useful life after nearly 20 years.
Following the Hobart City Council's redevelopment of their pool into the Hobart Aquatic Centre
Hobart Aquatic Centre
The $17 million centre known as The Hobart Aquatic Centre is a major aquatic sporting facility located upon the Queens Domain, within less than 1 kilometre of the CBD of Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, Australia....
, the Clarence City Council decided to modernise the Clarence Pool. In 2002 the bubble was finally removed, and in 2003 the facility closed for an 11-month, A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
2.8 million refurbishment programme. A modern and energy-efficient permanent building was constructed to replace the bubble, enclosing the 50-metre Olympic pool, the children's wading pool, and the toddler's splash pool. New non-slip deck surfacing was laid, and the changing facilities were renovated; new lighting and heating and better disabled access were also included in the renovation.
The YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
was granted a contract for the management of the facility when it re-opened in 2004. They run aquatic education, junior flippa ball, aqua aerobics, adult education and water safety programmes.
The Clarence Aquatic Centre is also the home pool of the Clarence Crocs Waterpolo Club.