Woolwich is named after the area of London on the Thames, famous for its arsenal.
My experience in the pool
Woolwich is a sleepy but beautifully-preserved part of Sydney, with wonderful old 19th century houses and cottage gardens. Woolwich Baths are half way along the peninsula along the Lane Cove River that keeps the NSW version of Woolwich so little changed, apparently, from how it must have felt decades ago. It’s a far cry from its London namesake!
The baths are best at high tide, I was reliably informed by a gent who lives near the now disused Henley Baths and who happened to be on the same bus as me heading out to my swim this week. It was still an hour or two off high tide, but the water seemed pretty good to me and, judging by the depth markers on the pontoons, was heading towards 3m deep by the shark net.
There is a little shady beach when the tide is out, and a handful of people were stretched out there when I arrived, though I reckon their stay would have been shortlived as it looks as if that beach disappears completely when it is high tide.
The water had warmed up significantly since my last open water swim at Dawn Fraser Baths and must easily have been 20C. A sure sign of warming water was the appearance of hundreds of jellyfish in Woolwich Baths. These were those slightly freaky white/transparent jellyfish that have no tail to speak of so were harmless, though slightly unnerving as I brushed past them on virtually every stroke once I got out beyond the shallows.
It’s a lovely spot, though. It’s probably a good 30m between the two pontoons and the steps out of the water, giving you some sort of distance marker if lap swimming is your aim.
Woolwich Baths are the kind of place where you simply want to lounge around and lie on your back, though, gazing up at the trees along the river side or out to the yachts anchored just beyond the shark net.
I did a few cursory laps just to earn my post swim coffee and cake, but this was a day to relish being back in the open water and not breathless from the freezing cold. My first warm swim of the season.
It’s a peaceful spot, too. It’s nice that Mums and toddlers could be down here and play safely; nice that one lady was here simply sketching on the pool’s edge. But nice also that some people were out having a proper swim in the waters of Woolwich.
The story the guy on the bus told me, and as recounted on the blog of swimming friend Therese (see links below) is that some guy called Mooney used to collect a penny from swimmers for the right to swim in Woolwich Baths, so they became known as Mooney’s Mud Hole.
They’re free to swim in these days, though only open in the ‘season’, which began I think at end of September, and they are only accessible after 7am, with a closing time of 5pm, so are a bit like a regular swimming centre in that way, though there were no staff around when I was there.
Getting there, getting in, getting changed
If you can time it right, get the ferry to Woolwich wharf, but they only go once an hour and I missed one so opted for the bus. Trouble is, buses that go past Woolwich Baths are also only once an hour and it requires a change of bus if you are coming from Sydney CBD. Getting down from the road to the baths means a steep walk down via a lot of steps – just beware that’s all in reverse (ie uphill) after your swim…
Enter the water via the narrow strip of beach or get in the deep ‘end’ either by jumping in (to 3 or 4 metres of water) or down the vertical metal steps on the end of the little pier and on the pontoon by the shark net.
There are changing sheds, with one cold shower so you can wash off the briney water afterwards. Toilets available too.
Other practical points
No charge to get in to Woolwich Baths, but there are opening hours every day during the swimming season – see the photo gallery here for details.
Baths open from late September to end of March
History and stories of the pool
I didn’t find much in the way of stories that hit the newspapers on Woolwich Baths. I did, however, quite like the report of the Scouts’ swimming carnival held there – presumably every year, but reported in the Catholic Freeman’s Journal in 1939. “The evening being somewhat sultry brought many parents and friends to the carnival as well as hundreds of Scouts from the various troops, all eager to cheer their pals to victory” – a simple tale but somehow very much of its time and certainly not of the 21st century…
People I met in the pool
By the time I got to Woolwich Baths, it was clearly Mums and babies time of day so there isn’t much interaction for a guy my age with this demographic cohort! I had a brief chat with the father and son pair who were inspecting those jellyfish as I arrived, but no contact with morning regulars this time.
What’s your story? Any memories of swimming here? Any stories to tell? Or did you just have swimming lessons in days gone by?
Whatever you have to say, however brief, I’d love to hear from you and will add any stories to this section of the site as and when I receive them. Add your comment or story under ‘Leave a Reply’ below.
Links to other articles on this pool
Swimming blogger Therese came to Woolwich Baths quite recently in December 2015. This entry tells of the Mooneys Mud Hole story.
Kenton of the 1000 Pools blog came in 2015, though Woolwich Baths almost didn’t qualify under his pool criteria.
The Lazy Swimmer blogger came to Woolwich Baths in 2009, just before a storm.
Coffee, tea or milkshake after the swim?
It’s quite a hike up the steps (see pic in gallery) from Woolwich Baths back to the main Woolwich Road, but then just a couple of hundred metres to a very welcome post swim coffee
Ironwood Coffee – 102 Woolwich Road, Woolwich, NSW 2110
Open Daily 7am – 10pm (closes at 4pm on Mondays)
This coffee shop in Woolwich has great views – you can look over at the high rise buildings of Sydney’s CBD from the terrace out the front, or even get a peak of river views from the toilets at the back of the coffee shop.
It’s always nice to know a coffee shop roasts their own, and that’s what they do at Ironwood, so you have a choice of coffees, all prepared on-site. Lovely Marzocco machine and knowledgeable barista made for a good experience for that post swim coffee in Woolwich.
Great cakes too – I followed recommendations and went for the carrot cake, though the Lamingtons looked pretty tempting too. A bit pricier than most Sydney coffee shops but worth it and so close to the Baths.
This is as far north in Sydney as I’ve been pool-wise in the last ten years. I was heading to Drummoyne when a southerly change came through so I continued on to Woolwich which faces north.
Sunny day mid-week in autumn with no-one else there. Rather decadent really, lounging on the pontoons pretending I owned the pool. Speaking of which, technically I think they are not pontoons, as they are fixed and so do not go up and down with the tide. Perhaps they’re simply called platforms. In any case, I suspect they would be under water at around a 1.6m high tide.
Sydney’s best kept secret and let’s hope it stays that way! I’m a local and have been swimming here for many years. On busy days you can get 50+ people at the baths. They’re very family friendly. Parking is at a premium, with around 5 parking places at the baths, and at weekends it can be difficult getting street parking owing to the Woolwich Pier Pub, Cucinetta Restaurant and other cafes in close proximity to the baths.
Definitely best at high tide – very murky at low tide and squishy underfoot. The water at high or incoming tide is delightfully clear, little jellyfish notwithstanding.
Opening hours are a bit flexible and the gates aren’t locked until well after 5 in the middle of summer. These baths are not staffed so you’re responsible for your own safety and good behaviour. Most baths-goers are respectful of others. It’s that kind of place.
Thanks for that info, Sabrina. It really helps to get added info from locals who visit the baths in different conditions.
I went to Boronia Park Public School in the 50s. We used to go swimming at Woolwich Baths once a week in the Summer on a rickety old bus. There used to be a kiosk at the top of the stairs run by a very grumpy lady. She used to sell fantales, knock knocks, cobbers, liquorice, sherbet, musk sticks, slate pencils, spearmint leaves, Choo Choo bars and aniseed balls. She’d put them in little white paper bags and we’d eat them on the way home in the bus.
Great memories, Mary-Ellen, thank you. Yes, there’s something about needing a sugar rush fr a kid after being in the pool – I remember that, too, from my 1960s school pool trips in Yorkshire. Funny how the grumpy woman serving also stayed in your mind 🙂
My name is Jennifer. I would like to know where the best place to have a swim at 7.15am approx. at Woolwich and near the area iat 6pm. I have friends in the area, but they aren’t swimmers. Need a little help. Thanks
Hi Jennifer – the baths at Woolwich are best at high tide or an hour or so before or after high. yuo can check tide times on https://tides.willyweather.com.au/nsw/sydney/woolwich.html
I went to woolwich baths in the 1950’s it was very popular in this era. Once Ryde Olympic pool opened in 1960/1 this pools popularity went into decline. It is great that these baths are still operating, as it brings back great memories to swimmers of the past. Thank you John Wilson
Thanks John. How interesting that the Olympic Pool in Ryde led to less interest in the baths. Great to have your memories from so far back!