David Sprigg:
Updated November 2009

The Kyneton Amateur Swimming Club as it exists today was formed in 1958 at the time of the final construction stages of the 33-metre outdoor pool on the corner of Maxwell and Mollison streets in Kyneton.

The background to swimming in the Kyneton district is extensive. Certainly its early inhabitants of the Aboriginal Kulin nation developed water craft they applied to local waterways now known as the Campaspe and Coliban rivers. Following settlement by Europeans to the district in the late 1830s, swimming became a popular past-time during warm periods for the quickly growing Kyneton township from the mid to late 1800s.

There have been earlier forms of swimming clubs in the Kyneton area than the one that exists today. The first official club was formed in 1911 and, consistent with social attitudes of that time, appears to have been largely male dominated. In the same year this club became affiliated with the Victoria Swimming Association (established some eighteen years earlier in Melbourne), and conducted its first carnival in February 1912. At around this time a weir was constructed on the Campaspe River not far from the old Kyneton hospital to improve swimming facilitation. A swimming club exclusively for women was also established at Kyneton in the early 1920s so that girls and young women should have the same opportunities as their male counterparts in learning water skills.

Following improvements to the Kyneton weir for swimming in the mid-1930s (diving tower included), calls were made to develop a specific pool facility in the Kyneton township. The impetus for this push was brought about by public health and safety concerns. After a period of some years that amounted to little action for a new pool, and virtual neglect of the old swimming pool/weir, a revitalized community finally made headway in realizing the construction of the pool (this pool is to see out its last operative season in the summer of 2009/2010). These developments in turn prompted the formation of the Kyneton Amateur Swimming Club on 2 December 1958, and regular club swimming sessions were conducted soon after the pool was officially opened on the 6 December 1958.

In September 2010 the new Kyneton Sports and Aquatic Centre Centre evolving out of the former Kynetton Sports Complex in Victoria Street is expected to become operational. Once again the sustained efforts of many within the community have been largely responsible for this new facility finally being realised. No longer subjected to a short season of some 13 weeks because of the local climatic conditions, this indoor facility will enable KASC to become a truly all-season swimming club.

The Kyneton Amateur Swimming Club over the years has become an important part for many of the Kyneton district community. In particular, it has developed a focus of being a family-orientated club with an extensive range of ages represented across its membership base. As a member club of Swimming Victoria’s ‘District 15’, KASC has been represented by school-age children and young people competing broadly and at many levels across the state. A growing trend over recent years has been for many club members of all ages to participate in ‘open water’ (non-pool based) swimming events such as the famous Lorne Pier-to-Pub. For competitors and non-competitors alike, KASC has been the medium for physical fitness, water skills, and social connectedness.