Melbourne's Heritage-Listed City Baths Will Unveil Its Multimillion-Dollar Makeover This Spring

The historic fitness centre's $2.5 million restoration project will be revealed by September.
Libby Curran
April 20, 2021

Melbourne is about to launch into another frosty winter, but it's never too early to start planning your summer adventures — especially since the city is set to score a shiny new swimming spot. Or, a revamped version of an old favourite, to be exact, with the historic City Baths on Swanston Street receiving a multimillion-dollar makeover just in time for spring.

A $2.5 million restoration project is currently underway at the iconic fitness centre, and is set to be completed and unveiled by the time those slightly warmer days of September roll around. First opened in the 1860s, the red-brick Edwardian Baroque building is no spring chicken, but it's about to get some serious upgrades to pull it into a new era of life. Some of the works — which kicked off back in 2019 — have included renovations for the lockers and kitchen, repairs to the spa and changes to the reception area to improve accessibility.

Now, the crew of specialist restoration contractors will continue on with the fussier upgrade works required by the heritage-listed site, from carefully recreating the zinc fish-scale tiles adorning the cupolas on the roof to restoring the building's banded brickwork. The timber ceiling planks are being upgraded and will score a new lick of paint, the walls and columns will be given a spruce-up, and new skylights are set to be installed in the roof.

Wpcpey via Wikimedia Commons..

While the City Baths isn't closing entirely during the refurbishment, its pools, spa and sauna have had to be shut for certain short periods to make way for scaffolding and other construction elements. The venue is releasing details about any closures over on its socials.

Find the Melbourne City Baths at 420 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Its refurbishment is slated to be finished by September.

Top image: Elekhh via Wikimedia Commons.

Published on April 20, 2021 by Libby Curran
Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x