North Sydney pool closed and drained a week after much-hyped reopening following $122m overhaul

North Sydney Olympic swimming pool has been shut to the public less than a week after the complex reopened to much fanfare following a costly five-year, $122m redevelopment.

Last Friday, the local mayor, Zoë Baker, told guests at the pool’s formal opening ceremony that it had been a “challenging project” but she hoped it would delight generations to come.

The famous art deco pool, which first opened in 1936 and has been a training ground for countless elite athletes, was due to reopen in 2022 after closing for a major refurbishment. But it was hampered by delays and ballooning costs.

The celebrations following the reopening have been short-lived, with a power supply problem, detected by staff, forcing North Sydney council to temporarily shut the complex late on Thursday afternoon and empty the pool entirely.

A council spokesperson said the pool would remain shut “while the issue is investigated and the necessary works are carried out”, but they could not provide a timeline on how long it would take to fix the issue.

“Contractors and technical specialists have been working throughout the night to resolve the issue and complete the works as quickly as possible,” they said.

“The pool will reopen once the works are complete. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Council understands the community’s disappointment and apologises for the disruption.”

More than 10,000 people came through the doors during the pool’s free opening weekend last week, and 5,000 people took part in preview tours in the months leading up to the facilities becoming available.

An update on the pool’s website said it was “temporarily closed while we sort out a power issue at the facility”.

“This means pool and gym access, along with Learn to Swim and group fitness classes, aren’t currently available. If you have a class, lesson or session booked today, we’ll be in touch separately about rescheduling.

“Our team is working with technicians to get things back up and running as quickly as possible. We’ll keep you posted and let you know the moment we’re back open. Thank you for your understanding.”

The upgraded facilities feature two indoor pools, a spa, sauna and steam room, children’s outdoor splash pad, gym and gelato bar. Some 487 scoops of gelato were enjoyed over the opening weekend, and 818 cups of coffee served.

Social media users had a mixed response to the temporary closure, with some locals on Facebook putting it down to “teething issues” and others claiming the pool was “jinxed”.

“Hustled kids up and early for their first lesson this morning. A shame,” one mother commented.

Prior to cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony, swimming legend Shane Gould said: “Buildings become landmarks because of their architecture. They become icons because of the people who fill them.”