Penrith War Memorial Swimming Pool

The Penrith War Memorial Swimming Pool was opened on 31 March 1962 and dedicated to those who served in the Second World War. 

The following newspaper extracts give a brief history of the site.

— The Nepean Times, 7 February 1957:

At that time it was suggested the Pool should be a Memorial to the local men who lost their lives In World War II and the Korean War.  That revived interest in the move made in 1954 in Penrith for the same purpose.

The committee obtained information 'from various towns that have swimming pools, including Nyngan, Gunnedah, Glen Innes, Bathurst, Wagga, Griffith, Macksville, Coonabarabran, and Mudgee. Mudgee was visited by members of the committee. The committee reported to Penrith Council in September, 1954. The report was adopted by council "in principle". Council said that it would approach the Public Works Department and inquire as to the possibility of obtaining loans.

— The Nepean Times, 12 October 1961:

Penrith War Memorial Swimming Pool should be completed at the end of December, the Chief Engineer, Mr. B. F. Smith, told council on Tuesday night. Mr. Smith was replying to a question by the Mayor, Ald. W. L. Chapman, who said he had received numerous inquiries concerning Penrith's pool.  Mr. Smith said there had been no hold-up in the erection of buildings. Crux of the completion time was the supply of the filtration plant, Mr. Smith said.

— The Nepean Times, 5 April 1962:

President of the Penrith War Memorial Olympic Pool committee, Ald. Fowler was officially opening the Penrith pool. As a returned ex-service man, he appreciated the pool as a memorial to the fallen of World War II. "The over-riding feature of previous memorials for World War I were that they were to be seen, not appreciated for their use," he said.

The opening ceremony for the £103,000 pool built by the Penrith City Council for the citizens was performed in good weather before a crowd of approximately 300 people. The ceremony was followed by demonstrations of life saving and resuscitation by Parramatta life-saving squad and swimming exhibitions by six Australian and State champions. Introducing Ald. Fowler, the Mayor, Ald. W. L. Chapman, particularly thanked him for the work done towards establishing a pool since Ald. Fowler, called a Public Meeting in 1957 to determine ways and means.