North Sydney Olympic Pool at Milsons Point will no longer require less mobile swimmers to use a hoist. When the heritage-listed Milsons Point complex reopens on 7 August 2026 after a $122 million redevelopment, ramp access will let people wheel directly into the 50-metre pool, a shift that has prompted debate among some patrons who valued the independence of the old hoist system.
The change is part of a comprehensive accessibility upgrade confirmed by North Sydney Council on 4 June. The council’s update detailed new ramps to all pools, accessible change rooms, family change rooms, lifts, and reconfigured pedestrian pathways. The facilities target families with prams, older swimmers, and people with disability, replacing the narrower access options that existed before the pool closed in February 2021.
Entry will be $11, with discounts for seniors and children. While that price makes it one of Sydney’s more expensive public pools, the redeveloped complex offers significantly more than the pre-2021 version. Alongside the 50-metre outdoor pool, visitors will find new indoor pools, a grandstand, gym, sauna, and a larger children’s play area. Lift access runs to all levels, and dedicated family change rooms sit alongside standard facilities.
Guided community preview tours are available ahead of the public opening. The council has asked residents to register interest through the pool’s social channels, noting that early access is limited. The full public opening is set for Friday 7 August 2026, nearly five and a half years after the gates were locked.
Some locals who used the old hoists have questioned on social media whether ramp access offers the same level of independence for patrons who cannot transfer easily from a wheelchair. However, the council’s design removes transfer steps entirely, allowing a self-controlled roll into the water. For parents with prams and swimmers who walk into the pool gradually, the ramps are a clear improvement.
The $122 million project, completed in May 2026, has been designed to honour the pool’s 1936 heritage while adding modern inclusive features. The reopening falls in the facility’s 90th anniversary year.
Anyone planning a visit before 7 August should be aware that the complex remains closed. The finished venue will bear little resemblance to the one that shut in 2021, with indoor pools and a sauna that are entirely new additions. Residents keen for a glimpse before the crowds arrive can register for a guided preview tour through the pool’s social channels.
Quick Facts
North Sydney Council
Local government authority responsible for the North Sydney local government area in Sydney, NSW. It manages public facilities including parks, pools and community infrastructure.