Part one of a four-part series
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FROM early days, those living at Mittagong made use of nearby creeks for swimming until a fine town pool opened in 1931.
Further south in the district, it was at Bong Bong, Sutton Forest and then Berrima that early pioneers settled, near where the Wingecarribee River ensured a supply of water.
Water-holes along the river and its tributaries would have attracted adventurous children, family groups on outings and those seeking to cool off in summer.
No doubt fishing and trapping were carried out as well.
At Berrima a wide, deep stretch of river below the gaol became popular for swimming from the 1840s.
Sadly many deaths were reported there, but that never stopped anyone.
As Moss Vale, established in the 1860s, began to grow it required a regular water supply and so in 1893 the council built a dam nearby on the Wingecarribee River.
The reservoir attracted those out for a 'dip', but was out of bounds.
This did not deter some, as the Scrutineer reported in May 1909: "Police Court: before Mr F H Galbraith.
Warwick Lumley was charged with swimming in the reservoir of the Moss Vale water supply; he pleaded guilty, but said that he had shot a bird that fell on the other side of the river and he swam across to get it".
During the years of WWI, the German mariners interned at Berrima made constant use of the Wingecarribee (referred to as 'Berrima River').
They built a rock wall downstream of the town to create a wide expanse of water suitable for water sports and for holding aquatic regattas.
The internees also canoed along the river and went on excursions further afield, including to a waterfall pool on Medway rivulet.
In the late 1920s, when Arnold Taylor established the Cement Works at New Berrima, a dam wall was built across the nearby Wingecarribee River to create a water supply, and the sizeable weir attracted swimmers.
Another frequented spot was some distance to the east of Moss Vale at Gunrock Creek on the Meryla Road.
Mishaps continued to occur.
In 1929 The Scrutineer reported a drowning fatality at Berrima, the victim being aged 10 years, only child of the Yabsleys of Moss Vale.
He was among the children who, with their parents, visited The Beach, along the river at Berrima, for a day's outing.
They were playing about in the shallow water at the river's edge when he slipped and sank in a pool about 25 feet deep.
No one noticed his plight except a playmate.
The police dragged until midnight without result and resumed next morning when the body was recovered with the help of a couple of local men in a boat.
In January 1933, The Scrutineer called for a public meeting on public baths in Moss Vale: "Let it establish a first class set of baths - ladies, gents, and children's. "We do not believe in mixed bathing - let each sex have their own particular bath with high enclosures round each so nobody will be tempted to intrude. This is the only decent way of having public baths."
Such segregation was not the majority view of the enthusiastic meeting held that month at the Moss Vale Council Chambers to discuss a town baths.
There were several suggested sites for a shared facility.
One was on the creek just above the bridge at the golf links where a rocky bottom could be made into a sizeable baths.
It was declared to be handy, with shady trees and, if picnic grounds were installed, could rival Mittagong's pool.
The Mayor, Ald Anderson, proposed instead that the baths be at the Bong Bong weir where the existing wall could form one side and where there would be a never failing supply of water at no cost.
No decision was reached and swimmers continued going to Mittagong or made use of local water-holes.
In February 1933 Moss Vale Council amalgamated with Wingecarribee Shire Council and, for the combined town/rural council, other matters took precedence.
After WWII, however, it was proposed in 1945 that a War Memorial Community Centre be established in Moss Vale to provide for the cultural and recreational welfare of youth and to include a swimming centre.
Through the efforts of the local community and the generosity of the Donkin family, the community centre took shape from 1946 and a swimming centre opened in 1965.
Recently the swimming centre was replaced with a new covered aquatic centre.
This article compiled by Phillip Morton is sourced from the archives of the Berrima District Historical & Family Society, Bowral Road, Mittagong.
Phone: 4872 2169, email: bdhsarchives@gmail.com, website: berrimadistricthistoricalsociety.org.au