Moana Pool reaches 50 year milestone

Dunedin (10 November 2014) One of Dunedin’s favourite swimming facilities, Moana Pool, is celebrating its golden jubilee on Friday 14 November 2014.

“It’s fantastic to see a great Dunedin facility reach its 50th birthday, especially a place, which contributes to the wellbeing of our residents and is enjoyed by so many,” says Mayor of Dunedin, Dave Cull.

To celebrate the anniversary an image exhibition showcasing the opening of the pool 50 years ago will be launched this Friday. Then on Sunday, 16 November from 10am-12 noon the city is invited to a cool pool party with some brand new inflatables, coffee and ice-cream, prizes, entertainment, music and good times for the whole family.

Moana Pool has a special place in Dunedin’s history and is a facility where many people will have fond memories of learning to swim and having fun. It has been the training ground of a number of Dunedin champions including Olympic medal winner Danyon Loader, Paralympian medallist Jenny Newstead, British Empire and Commonwealth Games medal winner Dave Gerrard and Commonwealth Games medallists in synchronised swimming, sisters Lisa and Nina Daniels, who now coach at the pool. It was also the home of Dunedin coaching legend, Duncan Laing.

Moana Pool replaced the Moray Place 1914 Tepid Pools, which closed as population pressure became too much. After much debate during the 1950s on what the new facility would look like and where it would be built, the site in the Townbelt was decided upon. The pool cost £450,000 to build and took its name from the site where the old Moana Tennis Club had been located previously.

Moana Pool was ahead of its time when it was finished. It quickly gained a reputation for being one of the best pools in the Southern Hemisphere as it was architecturally designed to take advantage of natural light and undergo upgrades and additions without having to adjust the core structure.

The facility has changed over its 50 years expanding from its original design of a main pool and dive pool to incorporate more activities and facilities.

“The pool has had a number of additions and upgrades keeping up with the demands of the population while mimicking the facility’s original style to make it an inclusive place for all to play, learn, exercise, compete, recover and relax,” says Manager Aquatic Services, Paulien Leijnse.

For more in-depth detail on the history of the pool please see www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/swimming-pools/moana-pool/history-of-moana-pool

ENDS

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