Bay & Basin Leisure Centre has celebrated 25 years of serving the local community, marking the milestone with a special birthday morning tea for members, staff and community members earlier this week.
Since opening in 2001, the centre has been part of countless local memories. For many people, Bay & Basin Leisure Centre has been where they attended their first swimming lesson, took part in a school carnival, visited with family, worked towards a fitness goal or simply enjoyed time in the water.
The milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the centre’s history and the many memorable events that took place in 2001. That year saw the release of the first iPod and the original Xbox, the launch of Wikipedia, the cinema release of the first Harry Potter film, Ian Thorpe’s record-breaking performance at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, and the Newcastle Knights’ victory over the heavily favoured Parramatta Eels in the NRL Grand Final.
25 years of community memories
Over the past 25 years, Bay & Basin Leisure Centre has:
- Welcomed 5.7 million visits since opening
- Recorded 317,054 visits in 2025 alone
- Helped approximately 28,000 children learn to swim
- Been part of the lives of generations of local families
The centre’s story is also reflected in the careers of its team members. Some staff began their own journey at Bay & Basin Leisure Centre in the swim school at just two years old before progressing into key roles at the centre.
The birthday morning tea was a chance for members, staff and community members to enjoy some cake, share stories and celebrate the people who have helped shape Bay & Basin Leisure Centre over the past quarter-century.
Thank you to every member, family, staff member and community member who has been part of the centre’s journey since 2001.