Overview
Sydney has just added to its collection of stunning pools with the opening of Gunyama Aquatic and Recreation Centre today, Monday, February 1, which is home to not one, but three bodies of water, as well as a fitness training centre and a 4950-square-metre sports field.
Located in Zetland, just ten minutes from the Sydney CBD, the new $106.5-million-dollar aquatic centre has been in the pipeline for more than five years, with the City of Sydney accepting designs from architects back in 2014. Work on the centre then begun in 2018. It's now the city's biggest aquatic centre since the 2000 Olympics Games.
Gunyama, which means "wind from the southwest" in the local Dharug language, is fitted out with a 50-metre heated outdoor pool surrounded by a 'beach' area inspired by Sydney's ocean pools. Inside the centre, you'll find a 25-metre lap pool with adjustable depth — to allow for everything from water polo to kids' swimming classes — and a hydrotherapy pool.
Brett Boardman
An indoor and an outdoor gym, an openair yoga deck, a cafe, a multi-purpose sports field and meeting rooms all make up the remainder of the complex. Rooftop solar panels and cogeneration systems have also been installed in order to create an environmentally sustainable complex. Surplus energy from the building will help power surrounding buildings in the community.
The centre sits in Green Square, one of Sydney's most densely populated and fastest-growing neighbourhoods. The city area, which encompasses Beaconsfield and Zetland, and parts of Alexandria, Rosebery and Waterloo, is expected to grow by 30,000 residents over the next ten years.
Gunyama is the sixth pool and fitness centre operated by the City of Sydney, alongside locations in The Domain, Ultimo, Camperdown, Surry Hills and the CBD. For access to all six you can purchase a membership for $17.90 a week to swim only or $28.45 for access to the pools and gyms.
Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre is now open at 17 Zetland Road, Zetland from 6am–8pm daily.
Images: Brett Boardman