Champions

Following its upgrade in 1902, the Pyrmont baths were considered the equal of any of the ocean pools on the harbour. Electric lighting, washing and amenities, a second storey of 42 bunks, plus a ten foot wide promenade running the full length of the baths for spectators. A perfect venue for swimming championships and for the training of future champions. Caretakers like Harry Hellings and Charles Proudfoot played an enormous role in coaching and running competitions, as did Jim Watkinson in his role as coach of the Pyrmont water polo team, who were premiers for two seasons.

Dick Cavill was an Australian hero. He participated at the 1903 Pyrmont swimming carnival and convincingly won the 1 mile championship.

The Australian Town and Country Journal reported on the ‘immense attendance’ at the carnival ‘including a large number of ladies’. Dick Cavill was definitely a drawcard. The journal described his successful breaking of the world record ‘amidst tremendous cheering’.

Dick (Richmond) Cavill was part of a swimming dynasty: one of five brothers, all champion swimmers, and whose father Frederick narrowly failed to cross the English channel in 1877.

Programmes were full of details, listing names of officials. Even a costume steward was named.

Apart from the usual swimming events, water polo was also played. Success in this interclub team sport was to prove one of Pyrmont’s greatest achievements.

Alick Wickham was a swimmer from the Solomon Islands who was noted for his Trudgen style of swimming, which influenced swimmers like Dick Cavill. After some variations it eventually became known as the Australian crawl or overarm style.

The young champion Barney Kieran had broken world times in 200 yds and all distances in between to 1000yds.

He appeared at the Pyrmont carnival in 1905 as part of a fundraiser to send him to England.

Both Kieran and Cavill perfected the Trudgen or overarm stroke that was to become known as the Australian crawl.

Tragically, on his return from England in 1905, Kieran died following an appendix operation.

Other famous swimmers to take part in championships at Pyrmont baths were Moss Christie and Boy Charlton. In 1923 Christie, in an exhibition swim at Pyrmont baths, broke Barney Kieran’s state record that had been established in 1905 for the 220 yards, achieving this in 2 min 28 seconds.

This was the pool that showcased the swimming greats and where world records were broken.

It was also the pool where hundreds of young schoolchildren were taught to swim. Schools held their swimming carnivals here. Family names such as the Watkinsons, O’Keefes, Kings, Blacks, Conlons, Proudfoots all had children who competed in these events and were champions of their day.

Recreational use of the pool was immense in terms of numbers. It has been estimated that based on the income statement of Pyrmont baths in 1923 the number of users per week was about 1500 and the number of users in a season around 25,000.

Jim Watkinson lived the whole of his married life in Bowman Street and was a celebrated coach at the baths. He coached the water polo teams to successive premierships, and used his political contacts to fight tirelessly for the survival of the baths, ultimately to no avail.

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