Do You Remember? ...the SUVA SEA BATHS?
Then:
The Suva Sea Baths was one of the most popular places in Suva around the 1950s - 70’s. It was a meeting point for children and adults.
The construction for the pools at the Suva Sea Baths began on January 8,1925 by the then G.J.Grahame led British administration.
The Suva Sea Baths was located right near the sea, and had two pools filled with sea water- one reserved for “Europeans” and the other for “Fijians”.
Those who frequented the pool in the late 1950s, remembers Mrs Weaver, the pool’s caretaker.
She was responsible to maintain the baths and supervise the children who came to the pool.
The pool was scrubbed clean every Thursday and it took two tides to refill the two pools.
The Suva City Council in 1956, opened the sea full baths to all races ending the racial segregation. In 1970, after much deliberation by council members amid complaints from members of the public for the pool’s unhealthy water state, the council decided and agreed to abandon the use of seawater for freshwater.
Now: Suva Olympic Pool
A new 100m pool was constructed in 1972 and the Suva Sea Baths changed its name to the Suva Olympic Pool.
Over the years, the pool has hosted countless swimming competitions including the first Pacific Games in 1963.
Suva Olympic Pool was reopened in 2010 after it was closed for twoyears. The renovations cost the council about $600,000.
The Baths no longer are next to the sea with extensive reclamation in the area.