In Sydney, where the temperature drops below 20 degrees in winter, a pool isn’t just for summer fun. Families often use swimming pools all year round for exercise, therapy or even just to relax. For this reason, many Sydney pools are heated to keep them at a comfortable swimming temperature. The cheapest option is solar heating, which uses the sun’s energy to heat the water, but gas or electric heaters are also available.

In the past, a visit to a sidney pools was synonymous with hot chips and salty sunscreen, long days of splashing around and carefree socialising with what seemed like the entire neighbourhood. But now the city’s iconic public pools are closing at a record pace, leaving residents deprived of their summer rituals and the intoxicating scent of chlorine and sunburnt skin.

The loss of the city’s pools isn’t just a matter of money. These facilities provide a safe place for locals to enjoy the outdoors and have become integral to the culture of their suburbs. They’re a reminder of a simpler time, when life was slower and community spirit was stronger.

For some residents, the loss of a local pool is a real blow to their quality of life. Yusra Metwally, a lawyer and community advocate, is one of them. Her childhood memories of Greenacre pool in Sydney’s south-west have been shattered by the pool’s imminent closure. The looming demolition of Canterbury pool is another major setback for her.

The future of some of Australia’s most beautiful swimming pools is being threatened by a lack of funding and an ongoing debate over their heritage significance. But a few Sydney councillors are calling on the NSW government to give them more help.

If you’re considering building a pool in your backyard, you’ll need to find a reputable pool builder. You’ll want to ensure the builder you choose is licenced, which means they’ve been assessed by NSW Fair Trading and are insured for the cost of your pool and any warranty work.

Before you start construction, you should ask the builder for a copy of their licence and a detailed quote for your pool. They should also be able to show you examples of their previous work. You should also make sure the builder’s insurance covers your project for the length of the construction and any warranty periods.

The Bogey Hole Newcastle (formerly the Commandant’s Bath) is an ocean pool that’s well worth a day trip north of Sydney. It was originally built for the commandant of Newcastle’s military garrison, and is thought to be Australia’s earliest surviving man-made ocean pool. The pool was hewn from the rock and is positioned on the coast, with stunning views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. It has also featured in an Australian exhibition for the 2016 Venice Biennale, called The Pool, which aims to bottle-up the smells, sounds, feel and look of a pool and place it in a cultural setting.