North Sydney Olympic Pool Reopens with Free Weekend After $122m Revamp

Swimmers will finally dive back into the North Sydney Olympic Pool on Friday 7 August 2026, and for the entire opening weekend, the gates will be thrown open free of charge. The reopening marks the end of a five-and-a-half-year closure and a $122 million redevelopment that tested the patience of even the most loyal Milsons Point locals.

The pool, a heritage-listed landmark that first opened on 4 April 1936, has been behind construction hoardings since February 2021. What began as a $48 million to $62 million project blew out to $122 million, with design flaws, a 2023 roof removal, and legal disputes pushing the timeline far beyond the original targets. Now, in its 90th anniversary year, the venue is ready to welcome the community back.

North Sydney Council confirmed the free opening will run from the afternoon of Friday 7 August through Sunday 9 August 2026. No ticket is required. “From then until the end of Sunday, everyone is welcome to experience the revitalised facility free of charge,” a council spokesperson said. After that, regular paid entry and new programs begin.

Visitors will find a dramatically upgraded complex. The outdoor 50-metre Olympic pool has been rebuilt with full water polo facilities, and an indoor 25-metre lap pool sits alongside a warm water therapy pool with a sauna and steam room. A new children’s splash pad, modern change rooms with family and accessible facilities, a gym and health club, and a café with harbour views round out the transformation. Energy and aquatics systems have been replaced, and the prized heritage wall has been meticulously restored.

For many, the reopening is deeply personal. During the prolonged closure, one local told the Guardian she had “tears in my eyes” over the loss of the pool she called the world’s most beautiful. The Urban List called the drawn-out process a “slap in the face for local residents, families and businesses.” Online forums simmered with scepticism about every new deadline. Council representatives acknowledge the strain. In a video statement posted on social media, a North Sydney Council representative said, “We know that there’s been significant frustrations during the course of this redevelopment and there were moments where I wasn’t sure that we would ever see this day but we’re here. This place has been part of North Sydney for 90 years. And the work that has been done to restore and future proof it means that it will continue to serve the community for many decades to come.”

The free weekend is just the start. For the first four weeks after reopening, memberships and Learn to Swim programs will also be free, and disability support workers accompanying clients receive free entry permanently. The council adopted the fee structure in April 2026 after 133 public submissions, aiming to re-engage locals and boost tourism on the North Shore. If you plan to go, public transport is the smartest option: Milsons Point and North Sydney train stations are a short walk away, and ferry wharves at Milsons Point and Kirribilli add a harbour crossing to the day. Parking on site is limited.

Make a day of it by pairing a swim with a visit to Luna Park Sydney next door, or wander into Kirribilli for a coffee and a bite. The August reopening sits squarely in the pool’s 90th year, and with the Opera House and city skyline as the backdrop, the “world’s most beautiful pool” finally has the facilities to match its setting.

The pool reopens at 4 Alfred Street, Milsons Point on Friday 7 August 2026. The free weekend runs until Sunday 9 August. After that, regular entry fees apply. It might have taken longer than anyone wanted, but the water is finally ready.