In the quiet farming town of Gulargambone, 100 kilometers north of Dubbo, residents Joyce and Gordon Newton have called home for two decades. They cherish the peace, open spaces, fresh air, and especially the local pool. “We love it,” Joyce says. “The pool means a lot.”
Morning Swims Foster Bonds in Gulargambone
Each morning, Joyce joins about half a dozen women at the Alan Walker Memorial Baths for laps and town gossip. The welcome sign notes 503 residents, though numbers have dwindled since the cypress mill closed in the 2000s, prompting families to relocate. Many in the group are widows who value the companionship and exercise over solitary days at home. “We just enjoy each other’s company and do whatever exercise we need to do,” Joyce explains.
Public pools anchor regional communities much like beaches do in cities, offering exercise, social ties, and escape from intense summer heat.
Dubbo’s Aquatic Hub Bustles with Activity
At the Dubbo Aquatic Leisure Centre, Lisa Burton applies sunscreen to grandsons Maddox and Beckham Chapman before their swim. Nearby, the local triathlon club’s “Hippos” power through laps in the Olympic-sized pool.
Peaceful Dips in Nearby Geurie
In Geurie, 20 minutes east of Dubbo, 18-year-old lifeguard Ella Hinchcliffe oversees Sally and Ian Anderson’s daily kilometer swim—40 laps in the 25-meter pool—skipping only Wednesdays when it closes.
Peak Hill Pool Draws Families
As temperatures climb into the mid-30s in Peak Hill, between Dubbo and Parkes, toddlers Kingston Hill and Kruize Riley cool off on the shaded concrete. Lacking air conditioning in many historic mining homes, locals flock here for relief, slushies, ice creams, and canteen treats.
Nyngan Pool Thrives After School
In Nyngan, home to 2000 people between Dubbo and Parkes, the pool buzzes post-school bell. Teens like 15-year-old Sophie Walsh sunbathe, while 12-year-old Max Kennedy dives down the waterslide.
Gulargambone’s Growing Appeal
Gulargambone’s swim group expands through summer, supporting school learn-to-swim classes for 60 students. Locals boast about world champion ice swimmer Peta Bradley, who trains there. “It’s just a quiet, peaceful, pretty place,” Joyce says. “I wouldn’t move back to Sydney, even if you paid me.”
