The Andrew 'Boy' Charlton Pool must be the most attractively situated swimming facility in the world.
Located on the shores of Woolloomooloo Bay in Sydney Harbour, near the Royal Botanic Gardens, the pool deck offers breathtaking views across the harbour of the Sydney skyline.
The facility was re-opened after a $10 million refit in 2002 and includes an 8 lane heated, saltwater pool, a terraced deck with shaded seating, a learners pool, cafe and function room, a community room, disabled and family change rooms and a therapy suite.

Services and classes on offer include:

The pool offers swimming, relaxation and socialising in a tranquil environment which was a popular swimming spot for Indigenous aborigines before European settlement and was the hub of the sporting achievements of Australian swimming legend Andrew 'Boy' Charlton in the 1920's.
It is believed to be the birthplace of the Australian Crawl or freestyle swimming stroke.

Admission Fees
All prices include GST. (Dec 2008)
Adult: $5.70
Child/student: $3.90
Pensioner: $3.70
City of Sydney concession card: $2.00

Season Pass
Adult: $556.00
Child: $392.00
Pensioner: $392.00

Multi Visit Pass (20 Visits)
Adult: $95.00
Child: $67.00
Pensioner: $66.00

Multi Visit Pass (10 Visits)
Adult: $51.00
Child: $35.00
Pensioner: $35.00

CHARLTON, ANDREW MURRAY (1907-1975),
Nicknamed 'Boy', he grew up at Manly where he attended Manly Public School and spent much of his spare time surfing at the famous beach.
In 1921 - 22 he was a student at Sydney Grammar School, then attended Hawkesbury Agricultural College in January 1923.
His reputation as a swimmer began on the 13 January at the NSW State championships when he swam 880 yards freestyle in 11 minutes 5.2 seconds, taking 19 seconds off the world record.
In January next year at the State titles held at the Domain baths in Sydney he defeated the great Swedish swimmer Arne Borg over 440 yards freestyle, equalling Borg's world record of 5 minutes 11.8 seconds>
The following Saturday he beat Borg in the 880 yards freestyle event by 15 yards, setting a world mark of 10 minutes 51.8 seconds. He was dubbed the 'Manly Flying Fish', and became a popular sporting idol under his trainer, Tom Adrian.

At the 1924 Paris Olympic Games he set two new Olympic and world records in the 1500 metres (20 minutes 6.6 seconds), 1,000 metres (13 minutes 19.6 seconds) and was only the third Australian to be awarded a gold medal in swimming.
He came third in the 400m behind Johnny Weissmuller and Borg, and was one of the 4 x 200 relay team which came second.
In December he left Hawkesbury Agricultural College without graduating, and worked on Malcolm McKellar's station, Kurrumbede, at Gunnedah. On 8 January 1927 Charlton, now trained by Harry Hay, set a new world record of 10 minutes 32 seconds for 880 yards. In 1932 he set new Australian records for 440 and 880 yards, but was unplaced in events at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

In 1934 he moved to Canberra and became captain of Manuka Swimming Club.
Representing Canberra at the New South Wales championships in Sydney in January 1935, he beat the French and Australian champions Jean Taris and Noel Ryan in the 880 yards in one of his greatest swims and last race.
Next year he took up sheep-raising with J. Hyles on part of Woolowolar, near Tarago. On 20 March 1937 at St Mark's Church, Darling Point, Sydney, he married Jessie Muriel Hyles. He then settled on a 12,000-acre (4856 ha) property, Kilrea, at Boro near Goulburn, and became a successful grazier.

Survived by his wife, son and daughter, Charlton died suddenly of a heart attack at his Avalon home on 10 December 1975.

In 1968 the new Sydney Domain baths were named after him and in 1972 he was honoured by the International Swimming Hall of Fame at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America.



Andrew 'Boy Charlton Biography