Inner West Council has launched a six-month program of free Sunday music at its aquatic centres, with local solo performers scheduled from noon to 2pm every Sunday until 28 March 2027. The first session featuring indie-folk singer-songwriter Giddy was moved from Dawn Fraser Baths to Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre after heavy rainfall closed the Balmain venue on 4 October.
The program gives residents a low-cost way to combine live music with swimming, family play or a poolside picnic. Sunday Sessions rotates between Dawn Fraser Baths, Ashfield Aquatic Centre, Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre, Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre and potentially other council venues.
The October line-up moves across four distinct pool settings. Kirk Burgess is scheduled at Ashfield Aquatic Centre on 11 October, Abigail Wighton at Fanny Durack on 18 October and Kimberly Bear at Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre on 25 October.
Inner West Council says the program is intended to support local musicians while making its aquatic centres useful beyond lessons, lap swimming and hot-weather cooling. Councillor Chloe Smith said the Sunday Sessions would create new ways for residents to enjoy the facilities and support local performers.
“At a time when households are looking for affordable ways to entertain the kids and spend time with family and friends, we’re making our aquatic centres even more welcoming, vibrant and fun,” Councillor Smith said.
Sunday Sessions forms part of the broader Cool Pools summer program. That calendar includes Dive-In Movie Nights, free-entry Family Splash Days and other community activities, including a Family Splash Day at Ashfield Aquatic Centre on 11 October and another at Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre on 20 February.
The venues offer very different experiences. Dawn Fraser Baths is a seasonal tidal harbour pool with a heritage setting, while Fanny Durack has an eight-lane 25-metre pool, an accessible toddler pool, a shaded splash pad, grassed barbecue space and a café.
Ashfield Aquatic Centre has indoor and outdoor pools, along with gym, spa, steam and sauna facilities. Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre in Marrickville offers an indoor 50-metre pool, warm-water program pool, children’s splash pool, café and sundeck seating.
The music is free, but swimming may not be. Visitors should check the individual event listing and normal aquatic-centre admission conditions before attending, particularly if children will be using the pools or splash areas.
Weather planning matters. The opening session’s relocation shows that an advertised outdoor venue can change, so visitors should check the official Council listing before leaving home and allow extra time for a different route.
Public transport is the practical choice for Dawn Fraser Baths because parking around Fitzroy Avenue is limited. Council lists F3 and F8 ferry services, the CCLC service and Darling Street buses, while the nearest wharves require roughly 20 to 21 minutes of walking.
Ashfield is the simplest venue to reach by rail, with Croydon Station about 360 metres away, or a six-minute walk, and Ashfield Station about 710 metres away. Annette Kellerman has no dedicated car park and sits about 1.4 kilometres from St Peters Station and 1.5 kilometres from Sydenham Station, with buses serving Enmore Road.
Fanny Durack is the strongest choice for a longer family outing, with Petersham Park, a splash pad, toddler pool, barbecue area and café available around the performance. Dawn Fraser Baths can be paired with Elkington Park and Balmain’s Darling Street precinct, while Annette Kellerman is close to Enmore Park and the dining areas around Enmore Road, Marrickville and Newtown.
Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre’s outdoor pools remain closed during its staged redevelopment, narrowing the Inner West’s available outdoor-pool options while the summer program runs.
Related to This Story
Inner West Council
Inner West Council is the local government authority responsible for community services, public spaces, aquatic centres and events across Sydney’s Inner West. It manages the facilities hosting the Sunday Sessions program.
Dawn Fraser Baths
Dawn Fraser Baths is a historic tidal swimming facility at Balmain’s Elkington Park. Built in the early 1880s, it is described by the NSW Government as Australia’s oldest pool and underwent flood-resilience and heritage refurbishment works between 2020 and 2021.
Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre
Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre is a seasonal outdoor pool in Petersham Park, with an eight-lane 25-metre pool, accessible toddler pool, splash pad, café, barbecue area and family change room. It operates during the warmer months.
The Sunday Sessions schedule runs through 28 March 2027, giving residents regular opportunities to match a short live set with the pool, park or neighbourhood around each venue. Local solo acoustic musicians can submit an expression of interest for future performances.