The Valley Pool

I'm in Brisbane for the night, staying at Ovolo The Valley, one of Hilton's SLH boutique brands (the receptionist says it's about to become a Wyndham). It's my first SLH stay since Hilton acquired the brand a couple of years ago, and I'm impressed. The service feels more personal and the rooms feel plush, bespoke and comfortable.

It's also my first time visiting Brisbane 'Brissy', as I always do in a new city, last night I donned the trainers and went for an 8 km loop around the city downtown and the spectacular Botanic Gardens peninsula on the meandering Brisbane River, and of course a quick stop for a scenic beer along the way - oh and the beer I couldn't remember the name of in Byron Bay, Great Northern Larger, lovely stuff.

After a fantastic but huge pizza for one at a fancy Italian last night (thank you, Tartufo), I definitely need a swim this morning.

I've already scoped out a pool for the morning but don't realise just how close the Valley Pool is to the hotel. I'm up early and not feeling too bright. My brachialis muscles—the ones under the biceps—feel fatigued. Odd, given the swim frequency at the moment, because I'm not doing real distance or pushing myself. Quick stretch in the room, then I head 300 metres down to the Valley Pool.

The pool traces its history back to 1901, when it opens as Booroodabin Baths. It's renamed Valley Baths in 1925 when the red brick facade is designed by City Architect Alfred Herbert Foster. It goes through several major revisions, the most recent in 1985, creating the 50 m, eight‑lane pool on the site today. Only the 1925 facade survives.

I pay the very reasonable AU$6.90 at the reception/cafe. The deck looks fantastic. There are eight lanes in the 50 m pool. A split boom is in place: one of the two sections is up, turning half the pool into eight 25 m lanes, with four 50 m lanes on the far side. To the left, a sizable spectator grandstand. To the right, an astro‑turfed covered area and what looks like a decked dance stage—which makes sense, because directly behind the blocks a neon sign reads 'Bar Valley Pool'. I reckon this might be best swum after dark.

Continuing my new fascination with Australian pool divider/boom tech, this pool has a variation of the flip up style I saw yesterday in Miami; only this one lies on the pool floor, not recessed, with industrial looking threaded metal rods attaching it to the floor. I'm not exactly sure how they raise and drop it—maybe compressed air and/or flooding the tank. Either way, neat, and not something I've seen in the UK.

I jump into a 50 m lane and get going. The water is crystal clear, cool and perfect. I plan a light 4 × 400 m for a total of 1,600 m. The pool is popular and clearly well used by the community. It definitely shows its age in places, but it's functionally perfect and a great swim spot.

Swim done, quick shower (remembered a towel today). I notice the 'lockers' sign on my way out—so they do exist in Australia—only I can't actually see them anywhere. Quick walk back to Ovolo for breakfast before an hour or so drive northeast up to the Sunshine Coast. It's Monday and there is work to be done.