Whole College

The Long Quest for PLC’s First Swimming Pool

A swimming pool for the new school at Burwood had formed part of the longrange building plans in 1945. By then, only the Junior School had moved from East Melbourne to Burwood. More than two decades passed before a pool was finally constructed in 1969.

The Presbyterian Messenger in 1945 reported: ‘The College Council proposes to establish a complete new school at Burwood, where the pupils will have ample playing fields, sports ovals and courts. There will also be extensive gardens, a swimming pool, and provision for indoor and outdoor hobbies’. But by 1952, because of the enormous cost of constructing essential classrooms and a hall at the new Senior School at Burwood, a swimming pool had to be excluded from the list of priorities.

During the early 1960s, a swimming pool appeared on the wish list for the design of the proposed Physical Education Centre. The Parents’ Association talked about it at meetings and actively lobbied for it. The pool’s cost – which would have tripled the total budget for the PE Centre – precluded its incorporation into the architectural sketches and so the PE Centre opened in 1965 without a pool. Sympathetically, Scotch College’s Headmaster even asked if PLC would like the services of the cadet corps to dig a hole for a swimming pool.

When the local community’s swimming pool closed in 1967, the need at PLC became more acute. Even an open air and unheated pool would do, it was thought. School Council agreed that an unheated 25-metre pool could be built if it were fully financed by parents. A swimming pool made it onto the list of priorities in 1968 and an appeal was launched with a target of $50,000. Parents were the main contributors to the $23,000 that was raised in only 12 months. It was a significant sum that would easily have purchased a house in Melbourne as well as a car. Amid great rejoicing, PLC’s first pool opened in February 1969.

Boarders particularly enjoyed using the pool. ‘With the completion of the school swimming pool, one wish has been granted — swimming during the weekends on those hot, humid days’, boarders wrote in Patchwork in 1969. Many new recruits joined the Life Saving Club as it was conveniently able to meet at the school pool. The new swimming pool also fostered greater enthusiasm among members of the swimming team. ‘This year the swimming team was full of budding Dawn Frasers, and it should reach a very high standard in the next few years. The new pool spurred us on and deserves a lot of the credit, even though we had to break the ice before we jumped in every morning’, wrote swimming captain Anne de Boer (1969). Some interschool competitions began to be held at the PLC pool from the year it opened.

In 1994, the pool was enclosed when the current Aquatic Centre was built around it. It was opened on 15 October by Old Collegian, Dame Leonie Kramer AC (Gibson, 1941).

Helen Penrose

Historian PLC 150th History

A. Lindsay Ruddle (second from left), William Mackay (Principal, far right) with Sue Gell, Elizabeth Blythe and Anne Setterfield reviewing the plans in 1992 for the Aquatic Centre that was built around the original swimming pool and opened in 1994.

B. 1969 swimming team standing near the pool. Standing, L to R, Sue Greig, Sally Simon, Jan Steel, Jeanette Chisholm, Anne de Boer (Captain), Meredith Benson, Elisabeth Gross, Heather McKee, Fiona Mackie, Vicky Beaurepaire, Janet Hare. Kneeling, L to R, Sue Hilliard, Anne Webster, Kaye Harvey, Pam Martin, Sue Campbell. Absent, Christine Kellaway.

At the end of 2022, the College proudly announced the launch of a new Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre (SAFC). Earlier this year, works began with the new Centre anticipated to open in 2025, to coincide with the College’s 150th anniversary.

The Vision for the New Centre

This project represents the most significant undertaking in the College's history. It has been designed to grow the breadth of the College’s educational and experiential learning programs within a world-class, sustainably-oriented facility.

By promoting wellbeing through sport, health and fitness, the College aims to provide a dynamic learning environment that educates young women who possess the skills, character and passion to face the challenges of the future.

Step Inside

The Centre will feature a 50-metre, 8-lane swimming pool, a 25-metre learn-to-swim pool, diving towers and seating for up to 400 visitors.

The sports arena can accommodate three basketball courts, which can also be configured for badminton, netball and volleyball.

There will also be a gymnasium and spin room, multi-purpose spaces for aerobics, dance, relaxation, table tennis and class teaching as well as staff areas, collaborative meeting spaces and an underground carpark.

Not only will it house the foundations of sport at PLC, but it will also provide an inspirational environment that engages and inspires students for generations to come.

A Sustainable Focus

The finished site will undergo significant tree planting and will be home to extensive vegetation. The building itself will feature approximately 700kW of solar panels. Recycled materials are being used during construction. Stormwater reclamation systems will also be installed to filter water for the pool and surrounding gardens, reducing the amount of water drawn from the local network.

Stay Up to Date

We encourage you to visit the SAFC Information Hub on our website via the below QR code to stay up-to-date during the project’s construction period.

*These images are for illustrative purposes only and may not exactly depict the completed project.

Twilight Picnic Returns

The Twilight Picnic enjoyed a recordbreaking turnout this year, marking the first event since COVID. The girls gave fantastic performances on stage and around the grounds. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. You can watch the highlights video via the QR code.

House Concerts

In the most anticipated event of the year, House Concerts 2023 was an amazing display of creativity, enthusiasm and incredible talent from every girl involved, as well as an absolute joy to watch.

Congratulations to all the girls and Heads of Department across each House for making this year's event such a huge success, including a total of $4,500 raised for Neno Girls' School.

Enjoy the highlights video via the QR code. Watch