Go Behind the Scenes at North Sydney Olympic Pool
After a significant $122 million redevelopment and five years closed to the public, the iconic North Sydney Olympic Pool has reopened, bringing together its rich heritage with a new generation of facilities.
The newly redeveloped pool features a heated 50-metre outdoor pool, 25-metre indoor lap pool, children’s splash areas, spa and sauna facilities, gym, Pilates studio, swim school and café, while carefully restoring important heritage elements of the original facility.
PLA and ARI are excited to offer members an exclusive opportunity to go behind the scenes with a special back-of-house tour of the new North Sydney Olympic Pool.
Hear directly from key people involved in the redevelopment journey, discover the challenges and successes behind this landmark project, and get a closer look at the new facilities and restored heritage features.
Places are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to see the new facility from a perspective few will experience. Register now to secure your place.
Our tour experts
Duncan Rennie – Manager Leisure & Aquatics North Sydney Council
Duncan is an experienced leisure, aquatic and fitness industry professional with more than 25 years’ experience spanning health and fitness, aquatic operations and local government.
Duncan holds a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland and began his career in the health and fitness sector, including operating his own fitness business and holding senior management positions with Goodlife Health Clubs and the Des Renford Leisure Centre.
Duncan joined North Sydney Council as Service Unit Manager Leisure and Aquatics in 2023 and has played a key role in the operational development and successful opening of the redeveloped North Sydney Olympic Pool. His role encompasses responsibility for both North Sydney Olympic Pool and North Sydney Oval, with a focus on facility operations, business planning, commercial management, and the delivery of high-quality community recreation services.
Paul Stevenson – Aquatic Expert
Paul has 50 years in the design and construction of over 1,000 Swimming Pools, ranging from small leisure/ club sized pools, to the most advanced Olympic pools in the world. Specifically, Paul has become a leading expert of International repute in the “Total Architecture” of Aquatic Centres. His expertise covers not only building services, but all aspects of swimming pools.
North Sydney Olympic Pool is an iconic heritage-listed aquatic complex originally opened in 1936 and host venue for the 1938 British Empire Games. Paul delivered aquatic engineering for the redevelopment including new indoor and outdoor pools.
Matt Baxter – Service Manager, Trisley’s Hydraulic Services
Matt from Trisleys Hydraulic Services brings extensive experience across a diverse range of commercial aquatic facilities, with a strong understanding of hydraulic installations, plant equipment and associated systems. His experience includes working on both new-build and refurbished aquatic facilities, collaborating closely with pool builders, aquatic engineers and other industry professionals. This broad project exposure has provided Matt with strong practical knowledge of commercial pool plant, equipment installation and the specific requirements of delivering reliable aquatic infrastructure across a variety of facility types.
John Xagoraris – Commercial Business Development Manager NSW/ACT – Fluidra
John, current Business Development Manager for NSW/ACT at Fluidra Commercial, brings extensive industry knowledge across the residential, semi-commercial and commercial aquatic markets. John has a strong understanding of a broad range of aquatic products and systems, including swim walls, starting blocks and water polo goals, and has worked closely with pool builders, consultants and facility operators. He is particularly familiar with the North Sydney project, having been closely involved in the project in preparation for the facility’s opening, providing valuable knowledge of the equipment, installation requirements and operational considerations.
Jonathon Stewart – Commercial Pool Builder, Crystal Pools
Jonathon is a highly experienced commercial pool builder with Crystal Pools, Sydney, bringing extensive knowledge and expertise to the delivery of some of Australia’s most significant aquatic, sporting and leisure facilities. His impressive project portfolio spans a broad range of sectors, including major aquatic & community facilities such as North Sydney, Oran Park, Ashfield, Canterbury and Campbelltown Billabong Parklands; Major Sporting Facilities, including Sydney Football Stadium, sports centres of excellence and Rugby League club facilities; Hospitality & Luxury Developments, including the W Hotel (The Ribbon) Darling Harbour, ICC and Crown Hotels; Members’ & Private Sporting Clubs across Sydney; and Education Facilities, including numerous private schools.
Jonathon’s extensive experience across these diverse projects has given him a strong understanding of the technical, operational and construction requirements of complex commercial aquatic facilities, with a proven ability to deliver high-quality outcomes across community, sporting, hospitality, education and private-sector environments.
Event Sponsor
FLUIDRA is Australia’s premier manufacturer and supplier of residential and commercial equipment and parts to the swimming pool & spa industry.
Fluidra Australia has a network of five Distribution Centres and eight Fluidra Pro Centres servicing Trade Customers nationally with a complete range of AstralPool and Zodiac products and parts.
