Freyberg Pool

Freyberg Pool
Freyberg Pool from the boat harbour
General information
Architectural style	Modernist
Town or city	Wellington
Country	New Zealand
Coordinates	41.291011°S 174.790056°E / -41.291011; 174.790056
Completed	1963
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Jason Smith
Awards and prizes	NZIA National Award Winner 2011
Heritage New Zealand – Category 1

Freyberg Pool is a public indoor swimming pool on Wellington Harbour, New Zealand. The main pool is 33 metres (108 ft) long.[1] It is named for Bernard Freyberg, a World War I Victoria Cross recipient and Governor-General of New Zealand.[2]

Bernard Freyberg c. 1904. at Te Aro Baths now the site of The Freyberg Pool

A strong swimmer, he won the New Zealand 100-yards championship in 1906 and 1910.[3] Freyberg died in 1963, the year the pool was opened, so it was decided to name it after him as he had trained at Te Aro baths which was previously at the site.[4]

The building is classified as a "Category I" ("places of 'special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value'") historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

In 2011, along with the Michael Fowler Centre, it won an NZIA Enduring Architecture Award.[5]

References

1. "Get active indoors – Freyberg Pool & Fitness Centre – Wellington City Council". wellington.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
2. "Search the List | Freyberg Pool | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
3. McLintock, A.H., ed. (1966). "Swimming – national championships". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
4. Sharpin, Jessie Bray. "Freyberg Pool". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
5. (www.nzia.co.nz), NZ Institute of Architects. "2011 New Zealand Architecture Awards celebrate the best work by New Zealand's Architects". www.nzia.co.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2017.

External links

Media related to Freyberg Pool, Wellington at Wikimedia Commons