The North Sydney Olympic Pool reopened to the public on 7 August 2026 — four years later than planned and at a cost that makes it the most expensive public pool redevelopment in Australia's history.

The art deco pool, which first opened in 1936, has been closed for a major refurbishment since 2021. It was originally due to welcome swimmers back in 2022. Delays pushed the timeline out by years, and the final bill landed at $122 million — a project that carried a nine-figure price tag from its inception The Guardian.

To mark the occasion, entry was free for the first three days. Former Olympians Zali Steggall and Shane Gould attended the reopening ceremony, lending the day a touch of the pool's sporting heritage. The reopening falls in the pool's 90th anniversary year North Sydney Council.

Not everyone celebrated the price. North Sydney mayor Zoë Baker opposed the scale and cost of the redevelopment from the outset, questioning whether the project had grown beyond what the community needed The Guardian.

The council announced the 7 August opening date on 26 May 2026, after the redevelopment reached practical completion — the stage where a building is fit for use, even if minor finishing work continues ABC News. Guided tours ran from 13 July to 5 August, giving locals a look inside before the first swimmers hit the water.

What makes the pool special is its location and its history. Sitting beside the harbour with the Sydney Harbour Bridge overhead, the 50-metre outdoor pool has hosted national championships and Olympic trials since the 1930s. Generations of North Sydney residents learned to swim under its arches. The redevelopment preserves the art deco facade while modernising the facilities inside.

Whether a $122 million public pool represents value for money is a question North Sydney residents will weigh for years. For now, the water is open, the lanes are clear, and a piece of Australian sporting architecture has a second life.