Historic tidal pools

Gazing at these Historic tidal pools in Onehunga, can you imagine a time when swimming here wasn’t just a leisurely dip but a vital part of Auckland life? Long before the Onehunga War Memorial Swimming Pool opened in 1956, these tidal pools offered a refreshing escape. The tides dictated when people could swim. The harbor’s ebb and flow limited bathing to high tide. Aucklanders have always loved swimming, whether in the sea or in public pools. The Historic tidal pools represent a piece of that aquatic history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, swimming’s popularity surged. In Onehunga, the local swimming club even held carnivals at Onehunga Wharf until the 1910s. They later moved their activities to baths north of the isthmus. Sea swimming remained a favorite pastime. A 1915 New Zealand Herald report mentions over 350 women petitioning for better bathing sheds at Onehunga Bay. They noted “200 or more [women bathing] in the water at once is a common sight.” These women also requested the council to prevent horse owners from swimming their horses during women’s bathing hours. The desire for a dedicated swimming pool in Onehunga began in the 1890s. The idea frequently arose in council meetings, driven by concerns for safety and a desire for a controlled environment for learning to swim and club activities. Several plans emerged over the years. One proposed including a swimming bath in the new war memorial park at Onehunga Domain, now Jellicoe Park, in 1919. Another in 1926 envisioned a saltwater pool as part of a war memorial park at Geddes Basin. A 1931 plan considered a freshwater pool near the Onehunga Railway station, fed by natural springs. Intriguingly, a large saltwater pool was approved for construction at the foot of Normans Hill in 1929. This is where the Onehunga Lagoon is now. Work commenced in 1933. It was supposed to be ready by the summer of 1934-35. Its fate is a mystery. No record of its opening exists, and the modern landscape bears no trace of it. The Historic tidal pools in Onehunga played a key role in the journey towards the 1956 opening of the Onehunga War Memorial Swimming Pool. They tell a story of Auckland’s love for the water. They whisper tales of a time when tides governed swims and community desires shaped the aquatic landscape.