Extended Season Review

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Unley Swimming Centre’s Historic Extended Season

In 2023, the City of Unley was approached by the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR) to help accommodate swimmers displaced by the redevelopment of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

With indoor pool space in South Australia at a premium, Unley Swimming Centre partnered with ORSR to extend its usual 9-month season by an additional 22 weeks, offering winter swimming for the first time in its history.

Importantly, this partnership came at no cost to the City of Unley, with all associated expenses fully funded by the South Australian Government.

Beyond providing vital access to aquatic facilities, the extended season offered a valuable opportunity to collect data that will inform future planning and decision-making for the Centre. This included:

  • Patron origin data via postcode collection
  • Income and expenditure tracking
  • Utility usage and staffing requirements

To support meaningful analysis, the extended season was divided into three distinct phases:

  • Phase One (1 Aug – 13 Sep): Funded by ORSR
  • Phase Two (14 Sep – 25 May): Standard operation

  • Phase Three (26 May – 12 Sep): Funded by ORSR

This structure enabled robust comparisons with previous years and helped shape long-term strategic planning.

Over the full 2024–2025 season, the Centre welcomed 132,793 visitors, the highest attendance since records began in 2006. Phase Three alone saw 14,836 visits, averaging 135 per day, highlighting strong community demand for accessible aquatic facilities.

Financial forecasting for the extended season was remarkably accurate. The Centre predicted a net cost of $212,000, factoring in expected income. Actual costs came within $2,500 of this estimate, demonstrating strong operational insight.

Key figures from the extended 22-week season:

  • $100,000 – Pool heating
  • $33,000 – Electricity usage
  • $135,000 – Staff wages
  • $82,500 – Income generated

While the measurable outcomes were significant, the intangible benefits were equally impactful. Community support was strong, with many patrons’ expressing appreciation for the opportunity to swim outdoors during winter. The season also reinforced the importance of social connection and the mental health benefits of aquatic activity.

To all who supported the extension, who were bold and who embraced the cold, thank you.

Craig Solomon
Swim Centre Lead

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