Freshwater Amateur Swim Club
Founded 1946
Our history
Freshwater Amateur Swimming Club (FASC) is not as old as the rock pool itself, tracing its origins back to 1950 in the immediate postwar era. The pool was opened by Shire President Parr on 28 November 1925. The pool measured 33 yards (30.18 m) and was the first rock pool to be opened on the Northern Beaches. Concreting of the pool bottom was completed in the 1930’s. The pool was used for swimming races by lifesavers, who competed for a trophy donated by H. C. Butterworth, the secretary of the Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club.
The first club of any sort at the pool was the Women’s Amateur Swimming Club, formed in the early 1940s and later affiliated with the NSW Amateur Swimming Association. This club then joined the Northern Suburbs Women’s Amateur Swimming Association which also involved ladies clubs at the Collaroy, Dee Why, Manly and Narrabeen ocean pools.
The precursor to the FASC we know and love today was the Men’s Amateur Swimming Club (Freshwater Amateur Swimming Club) formed in the early 1950s, and our current clubhouse opened in 1954. The lower half of the clubhouse was erected by volunteers who later added an upper storey funded by Warringah Shire. It was the first building on this site, as until then the members of the Freshwater Amateur Swimming Club had used the surf club building.
In 1962, to comply with the standard for competition swimming pools, the Freshwater pool was extended from 33 to 55 yards at the western end. In 1966, the men’s and ladies Amateur Swimming Clubs amalgamated under FASC and held races on Saturday afternoons and Wednesday evenings.
In 1990 FASC and Harbord Diggers Sunday Morning Swimming Club agreed to share use of the clubhouse. FASC was the prime tenant, although the Diggers used the club year-round and FASC used the pool only during the summer swimming season.
In 1998 Councillor Darren Jones proposed that Warringah Council establish a suitable park seat and an appropriate plaque in the vicinity of the Freshwater rock pool as a memorial to the contributions of the late Roy Longley to the coaching of junior swimming. The Roy Longley Trophy remains a coveted perpetual trophy to this day, awarded annually.
Over the years since FASC was formed, the swimming races and social events at this iconic rock pool have brightened the lives of thousands of local swimmers. The FASC Committee welcomes you and your family to join us and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits.
FASC location
At the north east headland of beautiful Freshwater beach in Sydney. Parking is available at the headland carpark but is limited, especially in the peak summer months. Further parking is available at the Harbord Diggers RSL in the underground carpark, but this requires a walk to the pool.
The address is Lumsdane Drive, Freshwater, NSW, 2096, Australia. (Latitude South 33 degrees 46 minutes 54 seconds, Longitude East 151 degrees 17 minutes 40 seconds).
