
Hepburn Pool is a historic, pre-Olympic swimming pool built into Spring Creek within the
Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve in
Hepburn Springs. It was included on the
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) lists places deemed to be of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 2017. The Minister for Planning is the responsible Minister. ...
following a nomination and comparative analysis of pre Olympic Swimming Pools in Victoria by
Lisa Gervasoni
Lisa Gervasoni (born 1969) is currently the Senior Stakeholder Policy and Advocacy Advisor at the Victorian Farmers Federation. Gervasoni is strategic planner, photographer and artist. She was born in Melbourne, Australia. Gervasoni is part of a ...
.
It was built in the early 1930s for Bellinzona Guest House, which was operated by the Zelman'a, prominent Swiss Italian settlers. The pool is created by a concrete weir and drystone walling of a natural basin in Spring Creek, and is surrounded by terraced drystone seating. The weir features an outlet valve which ensures environmental flows into Spring Creek.
The pool was of Olympic size and was an early competition pool which hosted Victorian swimming championships in the 1930s.
The pool ceased operation in 1969 when an Olympic Pool was constructed in Daylesford. The pool filled with silt and in 1993-95 was conserved by volunteers led by Merv Keating of the Savoia Hotel using old photographs to replicate missing features such as seating.
The Pool was named Victoria's Favourite Built Place in 2004 as part of the Victorian Government's involvement in the International Year of the Built Environment.
In 2006 the Victorian Minister for Planning undertook a community consultation project to resolve perceived conflicts between the heritage of the site and Council's fears regarding insurance coverage. In 2007 risk management works, funded by the
Department of Sustainability and the Environment
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
* Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
commenced.
Images
Image:hepburn_pool.jpg, Hepburn Pool
Image:reflections_hepburn_pool.jpg, Hepburn Pool
Image:hepburn_pool_from_baby_pool.jpg, Hepburn Pool
Notes
References
* Gervasoni, L 2000 Comparative Analysis of Pre Olympic Swimming Pools in Victoria, unpublished copy with Heritage Victoria
Heritage Victoria citationYBE 2004Haultain ReportMedia Release
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Sports venues in Victoria (Australia)
Victorian Heritage Register
Swimming venues in Australia
Bathing in Australia
Natural pools