South West Life

If you don’t live near the beach, it’s nice to know there’s still somewhere to cool down in the heat of summer. Brunswick Junction residents have just such a place: the Brunswick Pool.

Built in 1952 by volunteers,  the Brunswick Pool has been a favourite for locals and visitors alike for many years with it’s cool water, shady picnic areas and BBQ facilities. It’s a great place where the kids can run amuck in the pool and river, while mum and dad have a rest under a shady tree.

The “pool” (swimming hole) has been created by a small weir about 10 metres long that runs across the river, creating a large deep swimming area. The weir also constantly releases enough water to let the river continue downstream, creating rapids and smaller pools underneath the willow trees.

The pool is available all year around. I recently dropped past there at the end of a long hot summer, after a record dry spell with no rain for 3 months, and the water level was still right up to the top of the weir, with plenty being released to continue the rapids and river further down. Being a self confessed water boy, I couldn’t resist the temptation to jump in, bringing back many fond memories of swimming in freshwater rivers as a kid. The smell of the water, the mud, and the sound of rapids and laughing children, it’s a very relaxing place.

For those who want to make an afternoon of it, there are picnic tables, BBQ facilties, playground and public toilets.

You can find the Brunswick pool where the south west highway crosses the Brunswick River, there’s a carpark off to the south east side of the bridge.