News / Council
Council looks ahead to expanding Brunswick Baths
Current renovations to continue until mid-September
Mark Phillips
THE Brunswick Baths will fully close for two days next week for major maintenance and cleaning works as Merri-bek Council begins planning for an expansion of the centre.
The indoor pool has been fully closed since August 14 and will be out of operation for almost another fortnight, while change rooms will not re-open until September 12.
While the outdoor pool’s hours have been extended during the works, the baths will be fully closed on Monday and Tuesday next week to allow for additional maintenance works and cleaning.
The works currently underway include resurfaced floors in the indoor pool area, modernised change rooms, a new Pilates room, new cold showers for the spa area, a refurbished sauna, family change rooms in the outdoor pool area, and a refreshed cycle studio.
The current works are the second time the baths have been refurbished since a $17 million redevelopment was completed 12 years ago which included a new 50 metre heated outdoor pool.
The indoor pool was retiled and roof had to be repaired in 2022 following storm damage.
First opened in 1914 – although the current Dawson Street frontage was not built until 1929 – the Brunswick Baths are visited by almost half a million people each year.
Merri-bek Mayor Helen Davidson said the works were essential to ensure the longevity and functionality of existing facilities.
“We have actively tried to minimise disruption as much as possible, however, we understand these renovations have had an impact on some users,” she said.
“We thank the community for their patience throughout these maintenance works, which we believe will lead to an even better facility and experience for them in the long run.”
Meanwhile, the council is looking ahead to a further expansion of the baths following the completion of the neighbouring Balam Balam Place earlier this year.
At their meeting on August 13, councillors agreed to allocate $150,000 this financial year towards concept designs for the expansion of the Brunswick Baths gym.
This follows a decision to use a remaining building on the north-west part of the site that was not part of the original Balam Balam Place project as an affordable space for artists, including printmakers and other artists connected to the Blak Dot Gallery. A budget of $900,000 has been set aside for building works including new wiring and plumbing and installation of toilets.
A decision on this building had been deferred until Balam Balam Place was completed.
The current gym has 352 square metres of space and with more than 3600 members is significantly exceeding its capacity.
In July last year, the council received a petition from about 400 people asking it to strongly consider allocatiing the north-west building for an expansion of the gym space.
This would have meant a complete demolition of the north-west building.
Instead, the new plan is to expand the gym onto an outdoor basketball court at the baths and relocate the court to the south-east corner of Balam Balam Place that is mainly used for car parking.
The entire project is expected to cost about $2.35 million.
Councillor Adam Pulford said the concept plans would help to make a case to the state and federal governments to help fund the project.
