AusLeisure

The City of Melbourne’s recently completed $19.48 million refurbishment of the historic Carlton Baths has set the historic facility up for a second century of operations.

Completed in time for the pool's 100th anniversary celebrations in February, the two stage redevelopment saw the facility closed from April last year. It included redeveloping the outdoor 25 metre pool and installing a new toddler’s pool with play equipment.

Welcoming the refurbished pool, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle stated “before we closed the doors last April, the pools at Carlton Baths were much loved but well worn. We recognised the need to upgrade the baths to make them more accessible for people of all ages and interests.

"As part of the upgrade, there’s a new toddler’s pool along with modern play equipment and shade sails. We’ve also levelled the pool floor, replaced the pool shell, and installed more slip resistant tiles, new decking and an access ramp."

The landscaping works include new trees and an upgrade to the sustainability of the pool through features such as rainwater collection, solar hot water and passive ventilation. The pool plant and equipment have also been replaced.

The latest $5.45 million redevelopment follows a $14.03 million upgrade in 2012 which included the creation of the contemporary gymnasium and group fitness rooms, a refurbished stadium, updated change rooms and new spaces for community and family services.

A lot has changed since the Carlton Baths were first opened on 11th February 1916.

When the Baths opened their main purpose was to keep the rapidly growing population of Carlton clean and healthy, with separate bathing days allocated for men and women.

The pool was not heated or chlorinated, and the water was drained once a week.

Today, the facility has state-of-the-art features including contemporary gymnasium and group fitness rooms, rainwater collection and solar hot water.

As part of the pool development, Ceramic Solutions prepared the 25 metre pool floor, added a slip-resistant access ramp and replaced the old pool shell with extruded Agrob Buchtal pool tiles.

Within the toddler’s pool, the splashpad comprised of 2cm circular Jasba mosaics with a safe and comfortable slip resistant finish. The aqua blue colour of the mosaics delivered a brilliant sapphire water appearance.

Looking forward, Lord Mayor Doyle added "Carlton will see a 28% increase in its population over the next 20 years. It’s important that we continue to deliver new and improved social and recreational spaces for this community for generations to come.”

Over the past five years the City of Melbourne has invested $60 million in community hubs and infrastructure such as Library at The Dock, Kensington Town Hall, Southbank Library at Boyd and Carlton Baths Family Resource Centre.

The Carlton Baths is managed by YMCA Victoria.

Images (from top): The new Carlton Baths, the facility's 100th birthday cake (courtesy of YMCA/Facebook) and the toddler's pool (courtesy of Ceramic Solutions).

For more information on Ceramic Solutions and their work at the Carlton Baths click here to contact them via Premium listing in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

12th March 2013 - COMMUNITY EMBRACES NEW CARLTON BATHS

16th December 2011 - YMCA GROWS IN MELBOURNE’S WEST

20th October 2011 - CARLTON COMMUNITY CENTRE CLOSES FOR $10.4 MILLION MAKEOVER

2nd August 2011 - CERAMIC TILE SURFACES REDUCES NEED FOR CLEANING AGENTS IN AQUATIC AND RECREATION FACILITIES

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.