Fonty's Pool
Encyclopedia
Fonty's Pool is a historic freshwater swimming pool near Manjimup, Western Australia
. It is registered with the National Trust of Australia
as an area of heritage significance.
Archimede "Archie" Fontanini arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia
in 1904. He worked for a timber sawmill
at Greenbushes
for three years, then decided to move near Bridgetown
to become a farmer
. Fontanini bought 460 acres (1.9 km²) of land in what was known locally as "Archie's Oven Gulley" in 1907. He cleared the land and planted and harvested apples and various vegetables. The water in the front of the house was used to grow heavy crops, and Fontanini decided to rest the land by dam
ming the stream with a large log and earth. He believed this would settle the silt
in the water and improve the land's fertility.
Fontanini and his wife had five children, who swam regularly in the dam he created. The dam became popular with other children and adults as the district of Manjimup
and timber town of Deanmill
expanded. There was no public pool
in Manjimup, and Fontanini was encouraged to keep the dam and charge an entry fee. This he did, and he constructed facilities, cemented the dam walls and floor and developed the surrounding gardens with little mechanical assistance.
The pool was officially opened to the public in 1925. On Australia Day
, 1947, a log chop
was held as part of an Australia Day Sports carnival. This was held annually for eleven years.
In 1950, Fontanini retired from farming to work full-time on managing the pool and gardens. Fonty's Pool received thousands of visitors each year, and the swimming lessons were very popular. Fontanini was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire and received a Queen
's honour for his contribution to the community and tourist industry in 1970.
Fontanini closed the pool to the public in 1973, because the management burden was too great. Community support saw the pool reopened in 1979 with the Australia Day Log Chops and Swimming Carnival, in celebration of Western Australia's 150th anniversary
. Some 12,000 people attended the carnival. Fontanini was present at the celebration. He died in 1982.
insurance issues led to the closure of Fonty's Pool in 2005, when its insurance policy was revoked. The Fontanini family sold the farm shortly afterwards. The new owners, with assistance from the National Trust of Australia, reopened the pool with a 300 metre fence around the perimeter to meet insurance requirements.
The Shire of Manjimup
celebrated its centenary on Australia Day
2008 with a "Back to Fonty's" event. The celebration included swimming races, a bathtub race and a log chop competition.
Part of Fontanini's original farm now houses a winery called Fonty's Pool Wines, which is adjacent to the pool on Seven Day Road. The 330 hectare winery, established in 1989, also produces avocados and truffles.
Fonty's Pool holds 18 million litres of water, with a winter flow rate of 44,000 litres per hour. The pool covers nearly one acre.
Manjimup, Western Australia
Manjimup is a town in Western Australia, south of the state capital, Perth. The town of Manjimup is a regional centre for the largest shire in the South West of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Manjimup had a population of 4,239.-History:...
. It is registered with the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
as an area of heritage significance.
Creation of the pool
ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Archimede "Archie" Fontanini arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
in 1904. He worked for a timber sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
at Greenbushes
Greenbushes, Western Australia
Greenbushes is a timber and mining town located in the South West region of Western Australia.-History:Greenbushes was founded as a mining town in 1888 following a surveyor's discovery of tin in 1886. Greenbushes was named after the bright green bushes that contrasted against the grey eucalyptus...
for three years, then decided to move near Bridgetown
Bridgetown, Western Australia
-Notable people:*Emily Barker, singer-songwriter*Jon Doust, author and comedian*Robyn McSweeney, politician*Tom O'Dwyer, cricketer*David Reid, politician*Deborah Robertson, novelist and poet-External links:* * * * * * * *...
to become a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
. Fontanini bought 460 acres (1.9 km²) of land in what was known locally as "Archie's Oven Gulley" in 1907. He cleared the land and planted and harvested apples and various vegetables. The water in the front of the house was used to grow heavy crops, and Fontanini decided to rest the land by dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
ming the stream with a large log and earth. He believed this would settle the silt
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
in the water and improve the land's fertility.
Fontanini and his wife had five children, who swam regularly in the dam he created. The dam became popular with other children and adults as the district of Manjimup
Manjimup, Western Australia
Manjimup is a town in Western Australia, south of the state capital, Perth. The town of Manjimup is a regional centre for the largest shire in the South West of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Manjimup had a population of 4,239.-History:...
and timber town of Deanmill
Deanmill, Western Australia
Deanmill is a historic timber town located in the South West region of Western Australia, near Manjimup. Its postcode is 6258.-History:After the Government Trading Concerns Act 1912 was passed in December of that year, several State-operated businesses were established...
expanded. There was no public pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
in Manjimup, and Fontanini was encouraged to keep the dam and charge an entry fee. This he did, and he constructed facilities, cemented the dam walls and floor and developed the surrounding gardens with little mechanical assistance.
Open to the public
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
, 1947, a log chop
Wood chopping
Woodchop or wood chopping is a sport that has been around for hundreds of years in several cultures. In wood chopping competitions, skilled contestants attempt to be the first to cut or saw through a log or other block of wood...
was held as part of an Australia Day Sports carnival. This was held annually for eleven years.
In 1950, Fontanini retired from farming to work full-time on managing the pool and gardens. Fonty's Pool received thousands of visitors each year, and the swimming lessons were very popular. Fontanini was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire and received a Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
's honour for his contribution to the community and tourist industry in 1970.
Fontanini closed the pool to the public in 1973, because the management burden was too great. Community support saw the pool reopened in 1979 with the Australia Day Log Chops and Swimming Carnival, in celebration of Western Australia's 150th anniversary
WAY 1979
WAY '79, also referred to as WAY 79 and WAY 1979, was the official 1979 sesquicentennial celebration of the colonisation of Western Australia by Europeans.-Planning:...
. Some 12,000 people attended the carnival. Fontanini was present at the celebration. He died in 1982.
Today
Public liabilityPublic liability
Public liability is part of the law of tort which focuses on civil wrongs. An applicant usually sues the respondent under common law based on negligence and/or damages...
insurance issues led to the closure of Fonty's Pool in 2005, when its insurance policy was revoked. The Fontanini family sold the farm shortly afterwards. The new owners, with assistance from the National Trust of Australia, reopened the pool with a 300 metre fence around the perimeter to meet insurance requirements.
The Shire of Manjimup
Shire of Manjimup
The Shire of Manjimup is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, about south of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Manjimup. It has an estimated population of 10,159 .-History:The Shire area was first...
celebrated its centenary on Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
2008 with a "Back to Fonty's" event. The celebration included swimming races, a bathtub race and a log chop competition.
Part of Fontanini's original farm now houses a winery called Fonty's Pool Wines, which is adjacent to the pool on Seven Day Road. The 330 hectare winery, established in 1989, also produces avocados and truffles.
Fonty's Pool holds 18 million litres of water, with a winter flow rate of 44,000 litres per hour. The pool covers nearly one acre.