McIver's Ladies Baths in Coogee is the last women-only seawater pool in Australia, open to women and children under a 1995 state exemption. Women have swum here since the 1870s, and entry is a small fee or donation.
Key facts
- Type
- Ocean pool or baths
- Good to know
- Kids area, Change rooms
- Facilities and access
- Large concrete sea pool, brick sunbathing area, amenities block, change rooms and a small clubhouse
- Managed by
- Randwick City Council
- Cost
- Small fee or donation
- Public transport
- Buses to Coogee, then about 5 minutes' walk
- Best time to go
- Mornings, not Tuesdays
- Water quality
- GoodCoogee Beach, 0.4 km away. Sampled 21 Oct. Source: NSW Beachwatch.
- Cleaning
- Cleaned every Tuesday
- Town
- Coogee, NSW
What it's like
The baths are set into the cliffs between Coogee Beach and Wylie's Baths, with a large concrete sea pool, a brick sunbathing terrace, change rooms and a small clubhouse. Being women only, they are a relaxed, private place to swim and sunbathe. Council has said it supports the inclusion of transgender women.
Women were bathing here before 1876, and the baths were built in 1886. In 1901 entry was a penny, plus another for towel and costume hire. The McIver family ran the baths for many years, and the Randwick Ladies Amateur Swimming Club has held the lease since 1922. A 1995 exemption from the Anti-Discrimination Act protects their women-only status.
When to go
Published hours are 7am to 4pm from April to September and 7am to 7pm from October to March. The baths are cleaned every Tuesday. Mornings are quietest.
Getting there and facilities
Walk south from Coogee Beach along the coastal path, about five minutes past the southern end of the beach. Buses run to Coogee from the city and Bondi Junction. There are change rooms and an amenities block at the baths.
Good to know
Only women and children can enter. Entry has long been a small fee or gold coin; check on arrival. Other pools nearby, including Wylie's Baths, Ross Jones Memorial Pool and Giles Baths, are open to everyone.