Swimming: 100 years

Swimming Australia: One Hundred Years

Swimming Australia: One Hundred Years, tells the fascinating story of how swimming evolved into the celebrated sport that it is today and how Australia became a superpower on the international swimming stage.      

From the humble harbour beginnings with the Cavill family, through the days of the great Andrew “Boy” Charlton, onto Dawn Fraser, Murray Rose, Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Libby Trickett and Stephanie Rice our affinity with the water has been a shining light in our extraordinary history.

More information about the book

Swimming in Australia is deserved of a history, to show what we’ve done, how we’ve done it and to celebrate those pioneers who have paved the way from cork lane ropes of rocks pools in Coogee and Bondi to the stately North Sydney Olympic Pool and the multi-million dollar Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

From those early accounts and community involvement via local swimming clubs and schools, to the nation’s contribution to stroke development and coaching innovations, Swimming Australia: One Hundred Years paints a comprehensive picture of the sport that has become so central to Australian lives.

The book profiles our most successful swimmers, coaches and administrators, and provides lively commentary on key events, behind-the-scenes details of big races and the sport’s controversies, all brought to life with stunning archival photographs.

Illustrated with over 125 colour images, many of which have not previously been seen, the book celebrates the sport that Australians have embraced as a nation.