Objects of Substance- The Swimming Pool

Letter from the President, Old Gils’ Association re Swimming Pool. Head Mistress to inform the Association that the Trustees, while grateful for the kindly thought of this benefaction are not at present disposed to sanction the proposal. (Trustees Minutes 31 August 1928)

Across the years, Grammar Physical Educators, such as the highly esteemed Mrs Meg Rorke, attempted to convince Trustees of the importance of a pool. Mrs Rorke recalled in April 2010 that when she pressed the issue with Trustee, the Hon. Mr Justice R.F.B. Phi lp, he stated “How can you have a pool when we don’t have a library?”

Grammar girls continued their swimming tuition at Spring Hill Baths or training at the Valley Pool, until in 1954, when the Brisbane Grammar School opened its WWII Memorial pool. They most generously allowed swimming classes, Interform swimming, and boarders’ recreational weekend swimming from its opening until 1959. [Interform swimming moved to the Valley Pool in 1958].

1957 IVB Swimming class at BGS