I want to pay, report, request
I want to pay, report, request

Suggestions

Lorem picsum

Suggestions

Kensington Community Aquatic and Recreation Centre redevelopment

A modern recreation experience that puts community first. 

The new indoor pool at Kensington Community Aquatic and Recreation Centre. Two eel sculptures sit above it.

Kensington Community Aquatic and Recreation Centre is now open!

Come for a swim, shoot some hoops, hit the gym and create healthy habits that stick as the beloved centre returns to Kensington, bigger and better than ever.

Features include: 

  • 25 metre indoor pool with eight lanes.
  • Learn to swim pool to help build essential swimming skills.
  • Children's water play area with spouts and fountains.
  • Improved gym facilities with modern equipment and 24-hour access.
  • Accessible change rooms, and a Changing Places facility funded by the Victorian Government.
  • Three full-sized multipurpose courts.
  • Health and wellness areas for an array of group fitness classes.
  • Community meeting room.
  • Café - open seven days a week!

The centre is located at 99 Altona Street Kensington Victoria 3031. 

Visit the Y's website

Visit the Y's website for the latest information about opening hours, memberships, group fitness, swimming lessons and more!
Find out more External link

​Photos

FAQs

Construction kicked off in 2021 and the new centre officially opened at 6am on Monday 29 September 2025. 

The discovery of asbestos-containing material and contaminated soil on site led to complex remediation works which extended the project timeline. 

The centre is located at 99 Altona Street in Kensington VIC 3031 External link.

Visit the Y's website External link to find out about the different transport options available. 

No matter how you choose to travel, be sure to plan your trip ahead of time so you can enjoy everything the centre has to offer.

Please visit the Y’s website External link. 

Please visit the Y’s website External link. 

The new centre is accessible so that everyone can join in. Features include: 

  • a fully accessible indoor pool with a ramp and handrail
  • aquatic wheelchairs
  • a pool hoist
  • four accessible change rooms with toilets throughout the centre, including one on the pool deck
  • a lift to ensure people can access all levels with ease
  • a Changing Places facility funded by the Victorian Government, fitted with a hoist and full-sized change table.

The new centre does not include a spa, sauna or dedicated hydrotherapy pool. These options were carefully explored during community consultation and the detailed design process.

Feedback showed External link that people wanted us to prioritise a larger 25m pool so this was expanded from 6 lanes to 8 lanes. People also wanted more space for children so we prioritised a dedicated learn-to-swim pool and aqua play area. Including a spa, sauna or hydrotherapy pool would have taken up too much space and limited our ability to deliver these community priorities.

To support comfort and accessibility, the new 25m pool is heated to a consistent 30°C - providing a warmer and more enjoyable experience for all users.

The centre runs entirely electric, meaning no gas is used to heat the pool, and LED lighting is used throughout the facility. In addition, the centre's heat recovery technology captures waste heat generated by air-conditioning and uses it for pool water heating.

The new design also includes solar panels, water conservation measures, and efficient heating and cooling systems, which help deliver on our commitment to tackle climate change and reduce emissions.

We’re proud to showcase the following artworks at the new centre:

  • Mother’s Art Production’s Eels External link was gifted to City of Melbourne after the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The four-metre sculpture is modelled on the Southern Shortfin Eel, a species native to the Yarra River – Birrarung and of special relevance to Melbourne. The sculpture will be on display in the pool hall.
  • Des McKenna’s Warin the Wombat External link was carved from a 2.5 tonne red gum log. The name ‘Warin’ (pronounced Wareeyn) is derived from the local dialect of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong/Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. The sculpture will be on display in the main entrance foyer.  

As part of the redevelopment, 39 trees have been removed. 

To ensure a resilient, healthy and diverse urban forest, more than 44 new trees will be plated near the centre and in JJ Holland Park in line with our Urban Forest Strategy.

Two stages of detailed community consultation were carried out in 2019, with the final concept design endorsed by Council in December 2020. More information about the consultation process can be found on Participate Melbourne External link.

As part of the construction process for the new centre, City of Melbourne engaged a licensed contractor to test soil on the site, which identified some asbestos-containing material. 

The contaminated soil has been safely removed and disposed of at a landfill facility licensed by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to accept this material. 

Find out more in the July 2022 construction update: 

We are committed to delivering the centre Kensington needs and deserves. Removing the contaminated soil has increased the project budget by $17.2 million - bringing the total cost to $68.2 million.

Construction updates

 

City projects

our acknowledgement

  • Torres Strait Islander Flag
  • Aboriginal People Flag

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. 

 

We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.