Alphington in Yarra, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Alphington Swimming Pool (Marker 1)

— Alphington Riverside Trail —

Alphington Swimming Pool Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, July 28, 2026

1. Alphington Swimming Pool Marker

Inscription. The Alphington Swimming Pool was constructed on the banks of the Yarra River by local residents in the early 1920s and remained a focus of community life until the 1960s. Annual swimming carnivals were held at the Pool and local families often picnicked in the area. After falling into disuse, it was covered with silt from the river and was partly excavated and restored in 2001 by local residents.

'The Alphington Pool represents happiness and joy - I was-there every afternoon' Alphington resident, Betty Terdich

Erected by City of Yarra.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 37° 47.214′ S, 145° 1.728′ E. Marker is in Alphington, Victoria, in Yarra. It is on Yarra River Trail 0.2 kilometers east of Chandler Highway (Victoria Route 21), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Yarra River Trail, Alphington VIC 3078, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

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on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alphington River Landscapes (within shouting distance of this marker); Alphington Swimming Pool (Marker 2) (within shouting distance of this marker); Alphington Wetlands (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Rudder Grange Historical Chronology (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Stand Up - Speak Out (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Collingwood Town Hall Trust Classification (approx. 3.7 kilometers away); Collingwood Town Hall (approx. 3.7 kilometers away); Keith Haring Mural (approx. 3.9 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alphington.

Also see . . . Alphington Swimming Pool. Darebin Libraries

Alphington swimming pool – situated at the south end of Alphington Park by the Yarra River - was a popular community recreation spot from the 1920’s to the 1960’s.

Prior to the 1900’s, swimming in the Yarra River was considered indecent and declared illegal
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, July 28, 2026

2. Alphington Swimming Pool Marker gacing back to the old pool on the Yarra
due to the high levels of pollution; penalties were administered to members of the community who chose to defy the prohibition. By the 1920’s people began to use the river for recreational purposes – mainly rowing and swimming - and many swimming clubs and river side ‘basins’ were established

Around 1920 the Alphington swimming club was formed and it was agreed that a pool should be built. A local contractor, named Mr J Bennet, was hired to scoop out the side of the river bank in the shape of a semi circular basin. Large rocks were transported to the site – with much difficulty by local volunteers - to terrace the floor of the pool, which was then reinforced with concrete and bricks.

By 1924, after two and a half years, the Alphington Swimming Pool was completed. One of the residents at the time remembered that on “the last day there was a cheer. Those men said they would leave Alphington a little better than they found it”

Later, a second smaller basin was built with two diving boards - one ten foot and the other three – and a timber platform erected on the other side of the river. A 23 meter long open ended barrier was built
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, July 28, 2026

3. Alphington Swimming Pool Remnants
around the basin – initially iron pipe and later timber – which children were required to swim along to gain their swimming certificates. An ex-swim student recalled that “our greatest thrill…was swimming across the river – you thought you were great if you did that”.

Boys used a rope on the far side of the river and a large dead gum tree to dive and swing into the water.

(Submitted on September 5, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.