about-us

About Yarra Pools

Yarra Pools acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Yarra River Birrarung, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We acknowledge their connections to land, waters and communities, and pay our deep respect and thanks for their continuing custodianship of Country.

Inspired by successful urban river swimming projects globally and here at home, Yarra Pools is a community-led proposal to re-introduce recreation and water-play to the lower Yarra and, in doing so, to transform an under used section of the iconic river’s northern bank into a thriving community facility.

Yarra Pools aims to bring people back to the river by advocating a swimmable and therefore healthy waterway all while celebrating a unique site’s cultural history by incorporating community involvement through design and ongoing operation.

Yarra Pools is seeking support to advance the project through a community-led, multi-staged design and construction process. This will ensure we deliver a facility by Melbourne for Melbourne.

yarra-pools-x-wowowa

YARRA POOLS x WOWOWA

In 2018, we joined forces with the team at WOWOWA Architecture, to produce a stunning new design concept based on your feedback!

Tell us what you think on social media!

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“What I like about this [design] is the wetlands, the soft connection with our waterway. It turns an under-loved part of the river into a magnet for people (and wildlife) and celebrates our connection with water!”

Andrew Kelly, Yarra Riverkeeper

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Our Supporters

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NEWS

Tuesday 4^th May, 2021

City of Melbourne commits to exploring feasibility of Yarra Pool

Melbourne City Council has unanimously voted to explore the feasibility of a Yarra Pool as part of the Greeline project, championed by Lord Mayor Sally Capp, which proposes the transformation of the North Bank of the Yarra River Birrarung. We look forward to working with Council over the coming months as planning for Greenline begins.

Friday, November 7^th, 2019

Yarra Pools welcomes new President Felicity Watson

We’re excited to announce the election of Felicity Watson as President of Yarra Swim Co, with co-founder Mitra Anderson-Oliver stepping into the role of Vice President.

After three years, co-founder Michael O’Neil has stepped down as President, having overseen the development of a business case and user needs analysis, as well as the launch of the Yarra Pools proposal at Enterprize Park, developed in partnership with WOWOWA.

Felicity brings a wealth of experience in planning and heritage advocacy to the Yarra Pools team, having recently led the National Trust of Australia (Victoria)’s successful campaign to fight inappropriate development in Federation Square.

A childhood spent swimming and kayaking in the Clarence and Nymboida rivers, in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, has given Felicity a lifelong passion for the cultural and ecological role of rivers in healthy and connected communities. She looks forward to working with Traditional Owners and the Melbourne community to achieve a swimmable Yarra River Birrarung.

Tuesday, December 11^th, 2018

Yarra Pools teams up with WOWOWA to realise community vision for Melbourne’s river front

Download the Media Release:

Download

Key Points:

WOWOWA Architects have created a stunning new render bringing to life a collaborative design concept for the Yarra Pool.

The design is the culmination of 2 years of public engagement.

The proposal is backed up by business modelling which shows there is a definite need.

Yarra Pools is looking for feedback, and support from the community and decision makers.

Download the Yarra Pools – Stage 1 Business Case (Market Drivers and Demand Profile):

Download

Download the Yarra Pools – Stage 1 User Needs Analysis (Insights Report):

Download

quote-one

‘This project builds on decades of work to return the Yarra back to the people. We dine, ride, run and row along the Yarra. Now it’s time to get back in.’

Yarra Pools

Tell us what you think on social media!

“What I like about this [design] is the wetlands, the soft connection with our waterway. It turns an under-loved part of the river into a magnet for people (and wildlife) and celebrates our connection with water!”

Andrew Kelly, Yarra Riverkeeper

yarrapools

City of Melbourne commits to exploring feasibility of Yarra Pool

Yarra Pools welcomes new President Felicity Watson

Yarra Pools teams up with WOWOWA to realise community vision for Melbourne’s river front

Download the Media Release:

Key Points:

Download the Yarra Pools – Stage 1 Business Case (Market Drivers and Demand Profile):

Download the Yarra Pools – Stage 1 User Needs Analysis (Insights Report):

‘This project builds on decades of work to return the Yarra back to the people. We dine, ride, run and row along the Yarra. Now it’s time to get back in.’

Michael O’Neill, Co-founder of Yarra Pools