Clarence Aquatic Centre
Clarence Aquatic Centre is a big swimming and water sports facility in Montagu Bay, Hobart, Tasmania. It is owned by Clarence City Council and operated by the YMCA.
The centre opened in 1963 as Clarence War Memorial Pool. It had an outdoor 50-metre Olympic-sized pool, a children's pool, and a toddler pool, with a large uncovered grandstand. It was only open in warm months.
In 1982, the pool was covered with an inflatable dome called the Bubble, so it could operate year-round. The white dome became a familiar landmark on the eastern shore. In the 1980s and 1990s it was the only indoor Olympic-size pool in Tasmania and hosted major events, including the Australian Swimming Championships. It supported activities such as water polo, underwater hockey, canoe polo, and fin swimming. The bubble wasn’t designed to be permanent and wore out over time; at one point a seam split during a competition, causing a temporary closure for repairs.
As Hobart built a new aquatic centre, Clarence City Council began modernising its facility. In 2002 the bubble was removed, and in 2003 the centre closed for 11 months for a refurbishment costing about A$2.8 million.
The rebuilt centre opened in 2004 as a modern, energy-efficient building that enclosed the pools. Upgrades included non-slip decking, renovated changing rooms, improved lighting and heating, and better access for people with disabilities.
Today the centre, run by the YMCA, hosts a range of aquatic programs. It is the home pool for the Clarence Crocs Water Polo Club (since 1964) and regularly hosts local swimming competitions and training sessions.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:42 (CET).