Photo gallery of Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre

The long-awaited opening of the $88m Parramatta Aquatic Centre is around the corner but it has also left us hankering for the good ol’ days of our former public pool. See if you’re in our photo gallery.

Elias Jammal 15, Jaiden Younis, 15, Benjamin Ayoub, 14 and James Younis, 15, at Parramatta on January 12, 2010.

After long six summers without a public swimming pool, Parramatta Aquatic Centre will open with a deluge of fanfare on September 25.

Champion Olympic swimmer Emma McKeon will be the guest of honour at the polished new centre on Park Pde, which features an 50m outdoor pool, 25m indoor pool, program pool, water play area, spa, steam and sauna, and a wellness centre with a gym and program rooms.

The grandstand will be named the Kevin Hession Stand, after the late member of the Parramatta Memorial Swimming Club and the Olympic pool will be called the Memorial Pool as a nod to the original pools on O’Connell St.

After 58 years, the beloved pools were bulldozed in 2017 to make way for CommBank Stadium.

Aptly opening as western Sydney sizzles through an early summer, the new aquatic centre will be welcome but it will be hard to match the character and soul of the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre.

Reminisce with us here.

Parramatta and District War Memorial Swimming Pool opened in 1959. Picture: Parramatta City Council Archives

November 26, 1995: The pools were famous for the diving boards. Picture: Milan Scepanovic

Mates take a plunge during the school holidays. Picture: Brad Hunter

Making a splash as temperatures soar on January 23, 2010. Picture: Krystle Wright

Mitchell Emery and Madeleine Smith at an under-14s water polo NSW challenge on February 21, 2003. Picture: Armen Deushian

Swimmers retreat to the popular pools as temperatures reached 40C on January 23, 2010. Picture: Krystle Wright

Swimmers cool off in the main pool on January 23, 2010. Picture: Krystle Wright

Parramatta councillor Prabir Maitra after the council passed a recommendation to allow free entry to its pools for the rest of the 2011-12 season for families, seniors and disability card holders.

A security guard on duty at the swim centre on January 15, 2010.

Many remember the tiered lawns of the aquatic centre.

The pools were hugely popular.

Parramatta Council’s city services group manager Sue Coleman near the baby’s pool on October 7, 2008 when it reopened after a $9.5m upgrade.

Sue Coleman at the pools, which closed in the 2007 summer.

An aerial view of the pool on August 15, 2007 when it was taken from a hot-air balloon. The pools were shut for an upgrade and filled with murky water. Picture: Isabella Lettini

A decrepit Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre on September 28, 2007, when it was closed for an upgrade. Picture: James Elsby

Only ducks used the pool on September 28, 2007.

A dilapidated Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre before the spruce-up.

Parramatta councillors Pierre Esber and Paul Barber conducted a final inspection of the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre before turning on the tap.

Lifeguard Brad Charnock checks the water temp at Parramatta Pools on August 21, 2009 after it reopened early because of good weather. Picture: John Appleyard

Tyson Kake and Bradley Heath at the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre Open Day on October 27, 2008.

Sarah and Richard Talab at the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre Open Day on October 27, 2008. Picture: Danny Aarons

Dean Worrell, Jackson Seary and Taylor Worrell at the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre Open Day on October 27, 2008.

James Crocker executes a plunge of the diving boards on October 27, 2008. Picture: Danny Aarons

Hannah Forrell diving on October 27, 2008.

Adam and Aman Elsamad at the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre Open Day on October 27, 2008. Picture: Danny Aarons

Christopher Marshall on October 27, 2008, was just one of many swimmers who loved the waterslides. Picture: Danny Aarons

Parramatta Council Aquatic Operations manager Steve Strudwick in the newly refurbished diving pool in September 2009. Picture: John Appleyard

Fast forward to January 24, 2021 when construction started on the Parramatta Aquatic Centre. Picture: Nearmap

Nearmap captured the progress from January 24, 2021 to August 8, 2023. Picture: Nearmap

The pool perimeter starts to form. Picture: Nearmap

The pool in August, a month shy of its opening. Picture: Nearmap

Originally published as Photo gallery of Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre