WHEN the surname Mullens crops up in conversations, talk automatically turns to the Moree Bore Baths.

The complex is now known as Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, and underwent a name change a few years ago when a concrete behemoth replaced the old closed-in, weatherboard structure.

At the time, well-meaning marketing gurus and image-makers stepped in and changed the name.

But for most Moree locals, and visitors from across Australia and around the world, the complex will always be known as Moree Bore Baths, famous for its natural artesian waters which started flowing – by chance – in 1895 when a nearby experimental farm was being developed.

The accidental discovery, when steaming-hot water from the Great Artesian Basin surged skyward and flooded much of the area now covered by Gosport, Anne and Warialda Streets, is the stuff of legend.

The experimental farm, where peaches, apricots, almonds, pears, quinces, plums, oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, lemons, limes, olives and even rice thrived, was opened in 1900.

The farm closed in 1910, with under-secretary for Agriculture, Henry Anderson, saying “we have reached the fullest extent of experimental work possible, and there is no room for applying the practical lessons on a large scale. The baths, town wool scours and other lessees require water”.

By this time, Moree Bore Baths was well-known across Australia – and the world – for its therapeutic waters and healing powers.

A hot pool were established in 1898, surrounded by timber walls, open to the sky, and timber flooring. There were no doors to the dressing cubicles, which had protective roofing.

The crude building housed one pool and one water spray. In 1913, female-only and male-only pools were established.

On January 24, 1930, an Olympic-sized swimming pool was officially opened and for the next 80 years, legends were born.

Pat McGroder came to Moree looking for work in 1929, and gained employment building the Olympic pool.

He was the complex’s first manager-lifesaver after the Olympic pool was opened and held the position for 12 months.

In more recent times, Moree Bore Baths is best-remembered for being managed by Pat and Marie Mullens, with their children, Greg, Michael, Angela and Carolyn close by.

Angela, now married to Moree building contractor Darren Walker, is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

In 1990, along with Lisa Curry, Susie O’Neill and Karen van Wirdum, Angela swam for Australia at the Auckland Commonwealth Games. They won the 4x100m freestyle relay and brought home gold for Australia – and Angela brought home gold for Moree.

The Mullens family managed Moree Bore Baths from 1970 to 1980. They returned in 1985 – at the behest of Moree Municipal Council – and managed the complex for another 11 years.

For much of the time during those tenures, Moree Bore Baths ran at a profit – an unheard of fiscal standing for a council-owned facility.

Greg Mullins was in Moree recently to catch up with family and friends. He visited Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre and was heartbroken, not that anyone noticed.

There was no-one else there.

“As I sat in the hot pool at eight o’clock on a Thursday morning, I was surprised to see not one other person in the pool,” Mullens said.

“I remember as a child, back in the early 1970s, there was a quarter-of-a-million admissions to the pool every year, from all around the world.

“Not only that, but there were trains coming up from Sydney, and people coming up from Melbourne to enjoy these amazing artesian waters.”

In nearby streets, motels and boarding houses – dozens of them – were built and developed on the back of Moree Bore Baths’ international popularity.

“As a child, going down to the New South Wales state and country swimming titles, Moree was regarded as having one of the best facilities and grandstand outside of Sydney. People used to rave about Moree,” Mullens said.

“Now the Olympic pool is gone and there’s a huge hole on the ground – pretty much where the beautiful old grandstand once stood.”

Mullens remembers the days when queues of people lined up to click through the turnstiles, waiting for his old man to swing back the doors.

“The pools thrived and the complex was even making a profit, with people coming from around the world, eagerly awaiting each day to enjoy the therapeutic and social benefits of these waters,” he said.

“People would line up outside the front entrance without fail at 6.30am on the dot . . . it was a sight to see.”

Mullens, whose great-grandfather Alf Sadlier served as mayor of Moree from 1953 to 1956, recalled the halcyon days of the 1970s.

In 1971, his father Pat started adding hot water to the Olympic cold pool, so emerging swimmers could train all year round – virtually unheard of back in the day.

“I firmly believe this helped build up the number of top swimmers that came out of Moree,” Mullens said.

“As well as that, Moree had one of the biggest diggers’ swimming clubs in Australia, where everyone could train all year round.

“There were very few pools in Australia swimming throughout the year at that time, and I think having this somewhat unique attraction helped local businesses.

“Clubs, pubs, accommodation venues, restaurants and cafes all shared the benefits, which had a ripple effect across the wider community,” Mullens said.

Mullens sees no sense in dividing the town with two aquatic centres – hot pools at the current site and a 50-metre pool and facilities at Taylor Oval on the other side of town.

Moree Plains Shire Council says ongoing leaks and seepages at the Anne Street site has forced  council boffins to consider alternative options.

Mullens disagrees.

“The one benefit of having a 50-mtere pool at Taylor Oval is that it will be close to schools, but when you look at the infrastructure that is already at the east Moree site, I think it is more feasible to keep the hot pools and cold pool together,” Mullens said.

“We all remember going outside to the cold pool in summer and ducking back to the hot pools.

“Another reason is the management side of it, and the cost of running two centres. Having them together makes more sense.

“As well as that, the hot artesian bore is on-site and piping for the waste water is already in place to go out to the ski park,” he said.

Mullens says a simple way to make sure a rebuild at the current site is done right, is to consult the people who have been there and know the lay-out – a little old-school knowledge goes a long way, he says.

“I don’t understand why there has been no previous discussion or advice sought from previous managers, not that I’m aware of, anyway,” Mullens said.

“There are unique problems that have been overlooked in previous plans, many with real design flaws, and these can be easily rectified.”

Moree Plains Shire Council in August set up a page on council’s website to keep ratepayers and visitors to Moree “in the loop”.

“Council has responded to the initial issues that led to the demolition of the 50m pool, but additional issues – in particular, leaks – continue to be discovered at the MAAC,” the page states.

“Despite a lot of work to address leaks and other failing infrastructure, there’s no guarantee that more leaks won’t occur.

“There is no perfect answer, but waiting another five years for a pool is not an option, so Council is looking to progress the best available solution”.

Words and Image: Bill Poulos

Historical Images Supplied