Named after the British MP who was the first ever victim of a fatal rail crash (knocked down by Stephenson’s Rocket), though probably named here for his role as Colonial Secretary in the 1820s.
My experience in the rock pool
It’s a slightly strange experience to swim in a pool closely guarded by high metal fences on all sides, though this is apparently the result of the insurance industry (or local authority fears of such). I’m not sure why Huskisson has been victim of this rather than any other pool visited so far, but maybe others can enlighten me in comments below.
Once you’re through the gate into the pool area, it’s really quite a pleasant place. The 48m pool stretches out along the headland towards the ocean at Jervis Bay, and from the pool edge you can also see into the harbour at Huskisson where lots of yachts (and whale-watching cruises) are at anchor.
We were there on a hot summer’s day so it was a real pleasure to dip into the cooling water. It was quite busy, though, so not very good for serious lap swimming when it’s full of kids at the shallow end. It’s also a bit narrower than many other Olympic size pools.
But with my body still used to the usual 25m pools in the UK, this pool did give me a good workout, even on a summery weekend.
Getting there, getting in, getting changed
Although this pool is right by the centre of Huskisson, it is not visible from the main street, so we needed to ask directions from people on the cliff top path, only to see that the pool appeared directly below us once we’d walked about 50 metres from the car park.
You need to be quite tall to work the gate opening mechanism to enter the pool area (I assume to prevent kids coming here unaccompanied!). Once inside the pool area, there are vertical steps at either end to get in.
There are changing rooms – with showers outside – about 100m from the pool. One of the showers was broken, and another swimmer I met there joked that we were lucky one of them was working…
Tidal differences
Waves lap gently over the edge at high tide.
Other practical points
This pool is only open in summer and autumn. Reopens only in November 2015!
There is also a kiddies’ paddling pool, with roof cover, in a separate section of the parkland from the main pool. This pool is right next to the changing area.
History and stories of the pool
Built in the mid 1960s, though apparently the fencing was only put up in 2002 after local Council concerns about insurance claims!
What’s your story? Any memories of swimming here? Any stories to tell? Or did you just have swimming lessons in the cold of winter in the 1960s?
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
I found no other articles written about this pool. If you know of any, I’d love to receive the links.
Coffee, tea or milkshake after the swim?
5 Little Pigs – 64/66 Owen Street, Huskisson
Open daily 7am – 4pm
5 Little Pigs reviewed by Fancy a Cuppa website
There are a lot of cafés in Huskisson, but this seems to be the best by far, serving up real quality coffee from the lovely Swell Coffee in Wollongong, and teas from Chamellia Teas. The cakes are pretty good too, and there’s lots of space, though it still gets busy in holiday periods. Service a bit mixed (a strange unwillingness to look me in the eye – was it something I said?).
40-odd years ago, when I was a kid, we had a special occasion “family outing” down to Huskisson from Shellharbour. We found our way to the picnic tables near the pool and set up. Alas, it was a cold, miserable day and we had the place to ourselves. The only other being in the area was a mongrel dog, taking itself for a walk.
We watched the dog, clearly enjoying its freedom, trotting along. Then the dog spotted us. It didn’t stop trotting along, but was as clearly entranced with the sight of a crazy family trying to have a picnic lunch in the rain as we were with a very happy dog out for a walk on this cold, miserable day.
With its head turned, engrossed in doggy thoughts about crazy humans, it didn’t see the pool (no fences at the time) and walked straight in SPLASH! much to the gales of laughter from us. Dog got itself out fine, shook itself furiously, and continued its merry walk, barely missing a beat.
A very fond memory of our family outtings from childhood.
What a great story, Victoria. Thanks for sharing it with us. I wonder if the Council had fears for dog health & safety as well as us humans when they erected that fence. So, presumably when there was no fence, you could go there all year round and picnic/swim?
Hi there. Thanks for your work on this project. There are a lot of us who temporarily or permanently need steps and a handrail to enter a pool/rockpool. I cant tell from your review whether this is the case here. There are such pools at Currarong and Kiama. Quite a long way to travel from Huskie. Could you include fuller accessability info in any future research? Thanks
Thanks for the comment, Jane. Where the access is obvious, I do try to mention it, but I could do with someone like yourself testing all the pools for accessibility and adding a note under each review. Often easier for someone who needs assistance to tell how good the accessibility is. I’ll try to get my local contacts to help on Huskie…
The Huskisson Sea Pool now DOES HAVE STEPS with a side Handrail to assist folk get into the shallow end – like a short staircase.
Previously, the old-fashioned vertical side ladders were a poor option, as they are hard on feet, especially the heavier one may be.
And for a few of course, the other (moderately agile) option depending on how tall you are, you can always sit on the side and drop into the water, up to a comfortable depth (i.e., without getting your head under) with one hand on the side of the pool for balance.
Hi there I was wondering if this pool is on a grassy hill with a pub near it??? I use to go there in the 60’s as a child. Sit on a hill with the mothers while the dad’s went into the pub. We would eat scallops and chips on the hill. We would go swimming whilst the mums watched us in the pool.
I think we had to drive into town from the camping ground that was on beach. We use to have to go to Sunday school on the campsite lots of kids would go they would call for you as they walked along the beach. All the kids would come running and follow them.
I’m not sure if this is the same place?
Hi Cate – almost certainly is. I’m not sure about the pub, but the Huskisson pool is at the bottom of a grassy hill for sure