For a hundred years, families in Brisbane’s Wynnum-Manly area have cooled off, learned to swim, and made memories at Manly Pool, a local fixture now marking its 100th year.
The milestone will be celebrated with a community event on Saturday, 26 September, starting at 10am. The celebration will be held at Manly Pool, located at 1 Fairlead Crescent, Manly, Queensland, with pool entry priced at just $5 and free entry for members.
A Century by the Water
Manly Pool has been part of daily life in the Wynnum-Manly area for generations. Locals have used it for school swimming carnivals, aqua aerobics classes and simple summer afternoons spent cooling off with family. Brisbane City Council has also acknowledged the milestone separately, noting that 2026 marks 100 years since the pool’s original construction, a piece of local history tied closely to the suburb’s identity.
The anniversary event has been built around that shared history. Visitors will be able to use the venue’s signature waterslide, watch a fashion parade featuring 1950s swimwear, and take part in an aqua aerobics session designed to show how the activity has changed over the decades. Races will also be held, giving both former competitive swimmers and casual entrants the chance to take part.
A social area will be set up for people to catch up with old friends and swap stories about the pool over the years, while food and coffee will be available near the entrance. Families with young children will be catered for with free face painting and a jumping castle, funded through the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund.
More Than Just a Pool
Today, Manly Pool offers a heated 25-metre outdoor pool along with a fenced splash pool, a wading pool and an onsite kiosk. The site also includes a gym, with the venue used regularly for learn-to-swim lessons, group fitness classes and triathlon training. Its accessible entrance and facilities mean the pool caters to visitors of all ages and abilities, not just competitive swimmers.
The pool’s longevity has made it something of a fixture in the area, with generations of local children learning to swim there before going on to bring their own kids through the gates. Its waterslide, closed only during the cooler winter months, remains one of its most popular features for young visitors.
Why the Anniversary Matters to the Community
For many residents of Wynnum-Manly, the pool represents more than a recreational facility. It has quietly shaped local routines for a hundred years, from school carnivals to weekend family outings. The centenary event has been designed as an open invitation for the wider community to reconnect with that history together, regardless of how long ago someone’s own memories of the pool were made.
Published Date 25-September-2026
