Located within the rapidly growing north cairns sporting precinct, the tobruk memorial pool is the regions highest profile swimming facility. I was down at the strand today and have always wanted to get a photo of the entrance to this amazing pool. School holiday guide summer edition by townsville city. The rats of tobruk controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack occupied europe, across the mediterranean. Tobruk swim school christmas holiday arrangement letter. Tobruk memorial pool is proudly managed by belgravia leisure. Strand swim school tobruk pool and the townsville health hub, townsville, queensland. Tobruk memorial pool is well worth a visit when you are next in cairns. Jezzine barracks is another attraction, located at the rockpool end. The area of libya and the whole north africa was inhabited at least for the last 50,000 years by various indigenous. Flow rider, 50m olympic standard pool, 25m pool, learn to swim and more. Tobruk memorial pool is the regions highest profile swimming facility. During each school holidays, tobruk memorial pool will be offering a fasttrack swim program. In july 2012, council resolved to undertake a feasibility study to consider the options for rejuvenating the aging pool.
Attract more customers by adding more content such as opening hours, logo and more yellow pages directory. It is now time that this historic pool receives a much needed face lift. Connect with tobruk kiosk at the strand, townsville, qld. Machine gun positions on cliff above the tobruk baths. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their elders past and present and all future generations. The tobruk memorial baths is a heritagelisted complex of outdoor swimming pools on the strand, townsville cbd, city of townsville, queensland, australia.
Google map of tobruk, libya nations online project. The town later became a way station on the coastal caravan route. I had my camera with a fish eye lens setting so thought i would give it a try and this is the result. Great to see the dedications to our diggers embedded in.
The city is located in northeastern libya at the gulf of bomba, a bay of the mediterranean sea, about 120 km west of the countrys border with egypt. With lessons for children and adults of all ages and abilities. In 1941 tobruk had held out for eight months 10 april1617 december 1941, after being besieged towards the end of rommels first offensive. Belgravia leisure, on behalf of cairns regional council, proudly manages the iconic tobruk memorial pool. Work commences on redevelopment of townsvilles tobruk. The recently redeveloped facility offers members and guests a fina approved 50m olympic pool, a 25m lap pool, a warm water therapy pool, a toddler splash area, a flow rider, cafe, two function rooms and retail. North of townsville are many more stretches of beach and there are great views of townsville from cape pallarenda conservation area. The baths were added to the queensland heritage register on. It seems that laurie lawrence may have a touch of chlorine in the blood and was always destined to be a teacher and coach of swimming. The last remaining rat of tobruk from the far north 98yearold henry tranter and victoria cross recipient corporal ben robertssmith vc were the guests of honour at todays poolside celebrations. Tobruk memorial pool cairns north queenslands premier aquatic sports facility. Very impressive refurbishment of this iconic facility. Strand swim school tobruk pool and the townsville health hub. About tobruk satellite view is showing tobruk, a seaport in libya and for some time the seat of a government of a divided country.
The pool was fantastic, staff very helpful, and the kiosk supplied cheap, easy food and drinks after we had our swim. The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the mainly australian garrison that held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during and after the siege of tobruk in world war ii. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Tobruk kiosk the strand, townsville, qld white pages.
As a young boy his father managed the tobruk pool in townsville, nsw. The old ww2 lookout posts are used to see these views. Tobruk seems to be the place to be held to the death without thought of retirement. It is also surrounded by steep escarpments, which make it easy to fortify against attack from the land there were some 14,000 australian troops and 12,000 british and indian troops in. Strand swim school tobruk pool and the townsville health. There are botanic gardens in the centre of townsville where you can relax and enjoy nature.
The siege of tobruk 1721 june 1942 was one of the more embarrassing british defeats in north africa, and helped to reduce churchills confidence in general auchinlecks abilities as a commander in 1941 tobruk had held out for eight months 10 april1617 december 1941, after being besieged towards the end of rommels first offensive. Tobruk sydney has over 40,000 years of history being part of the sydney basin and lands of the darug people. Aqua aerobics and disability swimming classes are also available. Tobruk memorial baths are not just an important part of history to townsville but to the australian swimming community and that is why council. The historic pool which has been one of townsvilles principal swimming. Fun things to do in townsville australia and magnetic.
It was built from 1941 to 1950 by townsville city council as a world war ii. Tobruk memorial baths are not just an important part of history to. Most tourists coming to townsville will visit magnetic island. Townsville city council acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of townsville the wulgurukaba of gurambilbarra and yunbenun. The baths were added to the queensland heritage register on january 1995. Tobruk narrates the taking of tobruk as part of a general thrust in north africa by allied forces. The tobruk memorial baths features a 50metre 160 ft olympicsize swimming pool, a 25metre 82 ft heated pool used for childrens swimming.
Tobruk memorial baths in townsville, australia lonely planet. Tobruk memorial pool redevelopment cairns regional council. Tobruk narrates the taking of tobruk as part of a general thrust in north. Once complete, the council aims for the tobruk memorial pool to be a one of the preeminent aquatic sport and recreation facilities in regional australia.
Tobruk pool, townsville, 1966 queensland historical atlas. I was told of some in the yarrawonga area and one above smyth street at belgian gardens and of one directly above the tobruk baths on the cliffs below the houses. Our members are breast cancer survivors and supporters, who participate in the sport of dragon boat paddling. At major matches centre court was supplemented by massive temporary scaffoldsupported stands. Visit our tobruk memorial baths project page for more information. The redeveloped tobruk memorial pool was officially opened on 14 may 2016. Tobruk memorial baths is a heritagelisted memorial swimming pool complex on the strand, townsville cbd, city of townsville, queensland, australia media in category tobruk memorial baths the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. Because it is libyas only natural harbour, tobruk was. Townsville city council, tobruk memorial baths the. These baths were used as a training venue for the australian swimming squad for the 1956 melbourne and 1960 rome olympic games. It has had a significant role in the history of the australian swim team.
There is a 50metre swimming pool, a 25metre heated pool and a childrens wading pool for you to enjoy. Anderson park covering an area of about 20 ha in the district of muningburra is mainly known for its ferns and pandanus. Refurbishments to townsvilles tobruk memorial baths are. Like many pools built across australia post world war ii, this pool was named in honour of those who served in the war. Townsville s much loved tobruk memorial baths has stood proud for almost 70 years and has opened its doors to greats dawn fraser and laurie lawrence. In 1950, tobruk memorial baths were inaugurated here.
It was during the height of the protest controversy in 1941 that council decided to name the pool as a memorial to the heroes of tobruk in north africa, where australian troops helped stop the. There are swimming pools at the tobruk memorial baths. Connect with townsville city council at the strand, townsville, qld. After world war two a returned soldier who fought in the siege of tobruk named the property tobruk and established an orchard producing citrus fruit.
Townsvilles much loved tobruk memorial baths has stood proud for almost 70 years and has opened its doors to greats dawn fraser and laurie lawrence. I was hoping this book would provide some insight into the experiences my grandfather had as a rat of tobruk. Fun things to do in townsville australia and magnetic island. On our recent travels down the nsw south coast i revisited the moruya war memorial swimming pool. The strand beach in front of tobruk pool, townsville, qld, 4810 who we are. The historic pool has been one of townsville s most iconic swimming spots for nearly 70 years.
On 22 march 1944, the original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern. The siege started on 10 april 1941 and was relieved on 10 december. Some of the attractions along the way include many restaurants and cafes like the watermark and longboard bar and grill, the saltwater rockpool, australias cleanest beach, a familyfriendly and free water park, fishing from the pier, tobruk pool, and the large strand park. In one of the most famous sieges in australian military history, australias 9th division. February reopening scheduled for redeveloped tobruk memorial. It started off with a visit from the australian swim team in 1952 and was said to be one of the reasons behinds australias swimming success over the next few years to come. A new 50m pool and kiddies pool will be constructed and improve the disability access in and around the pools. Tobruk pool the strand, townsville, queensland 4810 rated 4. Tobruk memorial baths environment, land and water queensland. Townsville, queenslands largest city outside the brisbanesunshine coastgold coast conurbation, is 1150 km north of brisbane. Tobruk memorial baths redevelopment townsville city council.
Townsville city council, tobruk memorial baths the strand. Tobruk memorial pool, cairns, queensland, australia. Tobruk memorial baths will be closed from monday 12 august for redevelopment. There would have been many machine gun positions around the lower ridges of castle hill during world war 2. Overall, it was an excellent book well researched and provided a great depth of information on the operations in north africa during wwii. The strand is considered to be the most popular park of townsville. Learn book folding and make sculptures and fairy furniture using a range of materials and decorations. It was built from 1941 to 1950 by townsville city council as a world war ii memorial. At the time the port was surrounded by a strong line of. The strandside tobruk pool is a bright and lively swimming complex, buoyed by its history as the training spot for the 1952 and 1964 australian olympic swim teams. The siege of tobruk 1721 june 1942 was one of the more embarrassing british defeats in north africa, and helped to reduce churchills confidence in general auchinlecks abilities as a commander. Great to see the dedications to our diggers embedded in the concrete supports for the shade cloth. I liked it immediately when i saw the swimming pool from the top of the hill.
Review highlights lap swimming super friendly pool staff, extremely welcoming. What we have, we holdmotto of australias 217th battalionin the tradition of his bestselling kokoda, peter fitzsimons, australias most beloved popular historian, focuses on one of the seminal moments in australian history. There were also major oil fields in the middle east that were vital to fuel their tanks, planes and motorised transport. About strand swim school tobruk memorial baths was first built in 1950. The museum of tropical queensland is an awardwinning natural history. Strand swim school offers a variety of classes including infant aquatics, learn to swim, squad. The port continued to be held by the allies until its surrender on 21 june 1942. Tobruk is the most important port in northern africa, because its deep water allows large ships to dock there. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra. The sporting landscape queensland historical atlas. Tobruk memorial baths on the strand, is the perfect place to do some laps. Tobruk memorial pool cairns 2020 all you need to know. Situated on cleveland bay, its flat landscape is overlooked by the red rock monolith of castle hill, known by the wulgurukaba people as cudtheringa. Payments for the fasttrack swim program must be paid upon booking to secure your childs position in the program.
Frank harrison author of tobruk the great seige reassessed. Check out our guide to the best things to do in townsville, including familyfriendly activities and excellent townsville day trips. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it wont cost you any more by doing so. The redeveloped tobruk memorial pool will provide the cairns community with a world class aquatic facility. Presented by strand swim school tobruk pool townsville. The strand is known for its rock pool and for various cultural events which take place here. Visit tobruk memorial baths on your trip to townsville or. The australian swimming squad including dawn fraser, lorraine crapp and murray rose trained here for the. Olympic size pools were constructed in townsville after wwii including the memorial tobruk, long tan and kokoda pools and in 1959 the centenary pool at brisbane was opened in spring hill. Tobruk pool will be officially opened tonight after a long and hard journey interrupted by unexpected delays and the onset of global warfare. Works to begin on tobruk memorial pool redevelopment.
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