Caveside Swimming Pool
Lying in the shadow of the Great Western Tiers, and situated equal distance from Launceston and Devonport in Northern Tasmania, is the small rural community of Caveside. Chiefly a dairying district, and with a population of less than 200, Caveside has few public amenities and facilities. The tiny school has long gone, along with the general store and post office, and only one of two churches still operate. There is no hotel or library, no movie theatre or football ground, and no street lighting or footpaths. However, Caveside boasts a swimming pool/tennis court/hall complex which is the pride of the district. This year, in December 2007, the Caveside Swimming Pool celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
In 1957, local residents banded together to build a swimming pool for the children of the area. The pool was built entirely by volunteer labour and with funds raised from within the community. The entire project was a tremendous community effort, and to this day - 50 years on - the pool, picnic grounds and buildings are still maintained and serviced entirely on a voluntary basis by local residents.
The Caveside Swimming Pool is a focal point of the community. It is a gathering point for family reunions, get togethers, club activities and picnics. Many a young child has learnt to swim and acquired water skills in the Caveside Pool. It has been, and still is, a meeting place for the kids of the district, where children have grown up, teenagers have fallen in love, and where the children of those children have returned so that four generations on, the Caveside Swimming Pool is more than just somewhere to swim, it is central to the life of this small, close-knit community.
Click on the following links to find out more about the history of the Caveside Swimming Pool
Bob Parsons on Parsons' Lake
The 'New' Swimming Pool, 1957
Name Change - Maintenance & Improvements