Lap, plunge or family pool: what changes the cost

Posted By Clearwater Agencyon October 8, 2026

In Short

Pool type changes cost through three things: how much water it holds, how much surface it has, and how long its perimeter runs. Footprint alone is a poor guide.
A plunge pool holds no more than about 20,000 litres against roughly 45,000 litres for an average Australian pool, so the running cost gap between types is wider than the build cost gap.
Small pools often sit on the hardest sites. The saving on a compact pool is rarely proportional to the size difference, because access and excavation do not shrink with the pool.
Average new house block size in Greater Melbourne fell from 490 square metres in 2012 to 429 in 2021 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022), which is why courtyard and plunge designs now suit more sites than they used to.
For lap swimming, a swim jet in a 5 to 6 metre pool does a similar job to a much longer pool at a fraction of the excavation, water volume and barrier length.

Most people start with a size in mind and work backwards to a budget. It is worth doing it the other way around.

The cost difference between a plunge pool, a lap pool and a family pool is not a simple function of how many square metres each one covers. Two of the three biggest cost drivers are set by what the pool is for rather than how big it is, and one of them keeps costing money every year after the build. Here is how the types actually differ, and what to weigh before choosing.

Small plunge pool with glass pool fencing and a hedge backdrop in a Black Rock backyard

Size is not the main thing that changes a pool's cost

Three separate measurements move the number, and they do not move together.

Water volume sets the heating load, the chemical load and the cost of every top-up. Volume is driven as much by depth as by footprint.
Surface area sets the interior finish, the evaporation rate and the heat lost to the air. A wide shallow pool and a narrow deep pool of the same volume behave very differently.
Perimeter sets the coping, the paving edge and the length of safety barrier the pool needs. A long thin pool has more perimeter per litre than a square one.

A lap pool maximises perimeter and surface area per litre. A plunge pool minimises all three. A family pool sits between them and adds shape complexity, which is a fourth driver of its own. This is why a pool that is half the size is almost never half the cost.

Plunge and courtyard pools: smallest footprint, often the hardest site

A plunge pool is generally any small pool up to about 5 metres long and 3 metres wide, holding no more than around 20,000 litres against roughly 45,000 litres for an average Australian pool. Depth usually runs from about 1.1 metres at the shallow end to 1.7 metres at the deepest point. Below about 3 metres by 1.5 metres, a pool stops being useful to swim in.

The Courtyard Series is the same idea in fixed sizes: The Petite at 4.0m by 2.0m, The Classique at 5.0m by 2.5m and The Grande at 5.5m by 2.75m, each with steps and full-width comfort seating.

These designs have become more relevant for a measurable reason. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the average new house site area in Greater Melbourne fell from 490 square metres in 2012 to 429 square metres in 2021, a drop of 12%, while house floor areas stayed broadly the same. The floor-to-site ratio rose from 0.49 to 0.56, which is a statistical way of saying Melbourne is building similar houses with smaller yards.

Here is the trap. Small pools tend to go on small blocks, and small blocks tend to have the worst access. A 4 metre pool behind a house with a one metre side gate can involve a crane, a smaller machine and barrowed spoil, none of which a 10 metre pool on an open corner block needs. The pool is cheaper. The site is not. Budget on the assumption that the saving is real but not proportional.

Compact plunge pool with glass fencing beside a brick garden wall

Lap pools: length is the cost, and you may need less of it than you think

A lap pool built for regular fitness swimming usually runs 12 to 16 metres long and 2 to 3 metres wide. Longer forms exceed 20 metres. A minimum depth of about 1 metre is needed if you want to tumble turn.

Length is where the money goes, and it goes there four times over. Every additional metre adds shell, adds water volume to heat, adds interior surface to finish and adds barrier line to fence. Those four costs compound rather than sitting side by side, which is why the step from 12 metres to 20 metres is a much bigger decision than it looks on a plan.

There is a shortcut worth knowing about. A swim jet turns a 5 to 6 metre pool into a continuous swim, and for most people training at home that delivers the same workout as a much longer pool. It also keeps the pool small enough to sit on a block where a true lap pool would not fit. If lap swimming is the goal rather than the length itself, ask about it before committing to a 20 metre design.

Long rectangular lap-style pool with stone paving and timber deck set among gum trees

Family pools: depth and shape do more to the price than footprint

A family pool that includes both a wading area for younger children and a deeper central section for older swimmers generally needs to be at least 8 to 10 metres long. Below that, the two zones start competing for the same space.

Depth is where family pools quietly gain cost. Every extra 100 millimetres of depth across the whole floor is more excavation, more spoil to remove, more water to buy and heat, and more interior surface to finish. Specifying a deep end by habit, rather than because someone will dive, is one of the most common ways a family pool budget grows without anyone getting more use out of it.

Shape is the second factor. A rectangle is the most efficient use of both the block and the build. Freeform shapes, swim-outs, wading ledges and beach entries each add setting-out time and interior surface area. They can be the right call, and a pool that suits how a family actually uses the yard is worth paying for. The point is to choose them deliberately rather than by default.

Freeform family pool with wide curved entry steps

Pool type	Indicative size	Where the cost concentrates	Best suited to
Courtyard	4.0m x 2.0m to 5.5m x 2.75m	Site access and excavation, not the pool itself	Small or enclosed yards with a fixed boundary
Plunge	Up to 5m x 3m, around 20,000L	Access, crane or machine hire, spoil removal	Infill blocks, cooling off, hydrotherapy, entertaining
Lap	12m to 16m standard, 20m plus long form	Length: shell, water volume, interior surface, barrier line	Regular fitness swimming on a block with the run
Lap with swim jet	5m to 6m	Equipment rather than excavation	Fitness swimming where length will not fit
Family	8m to 10m minimum for two zones	Depth and shape complexity	Mixed ages, wading plus swimming, entertaining

Running costs diverge more than build costs

The build price is settled once. The running cost is annual, and it is where pool type makes the sharpest difference over twenty years.

Evaporation is the clearest example, because it tracks surface area rather than depth. The Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia reports that an uncovered average backyard pool loses around 7 millimetres of water per day through summer, and that a cover reduces evaporation by 90 to 95%, saving around 3,000 litres a month. Every one of those litres was heated and chemically balanced before it left, so evaporation is a water bill, an energy bill and a chemical bill at the same time.

Apply that to pool type. A 16 metre lap pool has several times the water surface of a 5 metre plunge pool, so it loses several times the water, several times the heat and several times the chemical dose. The volume difference compounds it: around 20,000 litres against roughly 45,000 for an average pool means less water to heat from cold at the start of each season.

Pumping is the other ongoing line. Sustainability Victoria notes that pool pumps can add 20 to 30% to a household energy bill, and pump sizing follows pool volume. Whichever type you choose, a cover and well specified energy efficient options do more for the annual cost than any other decision made at design stage.

The questions that settle which pool you build

Work through these before comparing quotes across types, because the answers change which pool you should be quoting in the first place.

What will the pool be used for most weeks of the year?

Swimming laps, cooling off, and supervising small children lead to three different designs.

What can physically reach the site?

Gate width and slope may rule out a size before budget does.

How much yard do you want to keep?

A larger pool on a 429 square metre block is a decision about the garden as much as the pool.

Does anyone actually need a deep end?

If nobody will dive, depth is cost without use.

How long a swim season do you want?

That decides heating, and heating scales with volume and surface area.

Where will the safety barrier run, and how many gates does that need?

Barrier length follows the pool's shape and position, and it is part of the project rather than an extra.

On that last point, every pool or spa in Victoria capable of holding more than 300 millimetres of water must be registered with the local council and kept behind a compliant barrier (Building and Plumbing Commission, 2026). Designing the barrier line in from the start costs less than adding it around a finished pool.

Key Takeaways

Choose by use, not by size. What the pool is for sets the type, and the type sets most of the cost structure.
Expect a smaller pool to cost less, but not proportionally less. Access, excavation and spoil removal do not shrink at the same rate as the shell.
If lap swimming is the goal, price a 5 to 6 metre pool with a swim jet alongside a 12 to 16 metre lap pool before assuming you need the length.
Question every 100 millimetres of depth. It is the cheapest thing to add on a drawing and the most expensive to heat for twenty years.
Buy the cover with the pool. At 90 to 95% less evaporation it pays back on water, heating and chemicals at once, and the benefit is largest on the biggest pools.
Put the safety barrier in the design, not the aftermath. Barrier length is set by the pool's shape and position, so it belongs in the type decision.

The fastest way to work out which type suits your block is to stand next to each one. All four ranges are on display at the Albatross Pools display centres in Dandenong and Warrandyte. If you would rather start with the site, send through a pool enquiry and someone can tell you what will physically fit before you settle on a type. The Pool Buyers Guide covers the rest of the questions worth asking, and the pool finance page sets out how the investment can be staged.

Outdoor display pools at an Albatross Pools display centre, with palm trees and brick paving

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022) New houses being built on smaller blocks. Canberra: ABS. Available at: abs.gov.au (Accessed: 31 August 2026).

Building and Plumbing Commission (2026) Pool and spa registration requirements. Melbourne: State Government of Victoria. Available at: bpc.vic.gov.au (Accessed: 31 August 2026).

Sustainability Victoria (n.d.) Reduce pool pump costs at home. Available at: sustainability.vic.gov.au (Accessed: 31 August 2026).

Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia (n.d.) Pool water savings techniques. Available at: spasa.com.au (Accessed: 31 August 2026).

What actually drives the cost of a Melbourne pool

Posted By Clearwater Agencyon October 8, 2026

In Short

Two pools that look identical can quote very differently. Site conditions, not pool size, are usually the reason.
Seven things move a Melbourne pool quote: site access, soil and rock, pool type and size, interior finish, water and equipment, safety barriers, and landscaping.
Soil is the largest unknown. Much of Melbourne's west and north sits on reactive clay classified M to H2 under AS 2870, which changes what the excavation and engineering have to do.
Victorian house construction output prices rose 3.7% in the year to the June 2026 quarter (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2026), so a figure a friend quotes you from 2024 is not a benchmark.
Running costs belong in the budget from the start. A pool pump on its own can account for 20 to 30% of a household energy bill (Sustainability Victoria, n.d.).

Ask three Melbourne builders what a pool costs and you can get three different answers, all of them honest. The number moves because the work moves.

A flat sandy block with rear laneway access and a sloping clay site with a single side gate are two different jobs before anyone has chosen a tile, a light or a heater. Understanding which of those variables applies to your block is the difference between reading a quote and guessing at one. Here is what sits behind the number.

Long lap-style pool with stone coping and native planting in a rural Victorian garden

Site access and excavation set the floor on your pool cost

Everything starts with getting a machine to the hole and getting the spoil back out. This is the first thing a builder assesses on site and the variable that separates two otherwise similar quotes.

Access width and what it rules in or out

A three metre side gate lets a standard excavator drive in and work. A one metre path does not. On tight sites the options narrow to a smaller machine working slower, a crane lifting plant over the roofline, or temporary removal of a fence or section of wall. Each of those adds time, and time is the unit most of a pool quote is priced in.

Access also governs how the spoil leaves. A pool excavation generates a substantial volume of soil, and where a truck cannot reach the hole, that soil moves by barrow or bobcat to a loading point first.

Melbourne soil, rock and reactive clay

Victorian residential sites are classified under AS 2870, the Australian Standard for residential slabs and footings (Standards Australia, 2011). Classes run from A for stable sand or rock through to E for extremely reactive clay, with P reserved for problem sites needing an engineer's assessment. Much of Melbourne's west and north sits on basaltic clay in the M to H2 range, meaning moderate to high reactivity and expected ground movement from 20mm to 75mm.

Reactive clay does not stop a pool being built. It changes the engineering around it, and it changes what happens if rock appears part way down. Rock is the single most common reason a Melbourne pool quote is revised after excavation starts, because no site investigation short of a bore can rule it out entirely.

Ask any builder how they handle rock: whether it is a variation, a provisional sum, or carried in the contract price.
Ask whether a soil report is included and who commissions it.

Steel pool shell in place on a concrete base in an excavated backyard before construction

Pool type and size change the cost equation.

Bigger is not the only direction cost travels. A small pool on a difficult site can cost more than a larger one on an easy block. What the pool is for matters more than its footprint.

A plunge pool is compact by design and suits courtyards and infill blocks, which is often exactly where access is hardest. A lap pool carries length, so it carries more shell, more water, more interior surface and a longer barrier line. A family pool balances swimming space against yard space, and a courtyard pool is built around a fixed boundary rather than a preferred size.

Depth deserves its own conversation. Every extra 100mm of depth is more excavation, more spoil, more water and more energy to heat. A pool designed for a family with young children does not need the depth of one built for diving, and specifying depth by habit rather than by use is a common way to add cost that never gets used.

Cost driver	What moves it	Why it varies across Melbourne
Site access	Gate and path width, slope, overhead lines	Inner-suburb blocks and infill sites often have no rear access
Soil and rock	AS 2870 site class, presence of rock	Reactive basaltic clay is common in the west and north
Pool type and size	Shell size, depth, shape complexity	Block size and setbacks dictate what fits
Interior and finish	Interior surface, coping, tiling	Preference rather than site, so this is where budget is most controllable
Water type and equipment	Filtration, sanitising, cleaning system	Choice-driven, with running cost implications
Safety barrier	Barrier length, material, gate count	Set by the pool's position and the Victorian barrier rules
Landscaping and paving	Surround area, retaining, decking	Sloping sites need retaining that flat sites do not

Long rectangular pool with crazy-paving stone landing surrounded by tropical garden

Interior finish, water type and equipment

This is the part of the quote you control most directly, and the part where two builders can look furthest apart on paper.

The pool interior sets the look of the water, the feel underfoot and the maintenance rhythm for the next twenty years. Water type is a separate decision again: chlorine, salt and fresh water systems each carry different equipment and different running patterns.

Equipment is where a low quote and a fair quote most often diverge. Two proposals can specify the same pool with different pumps, different filtration and a different cleaning system, and the gap shows up on the energy bill rather than the contract.

Running costs belong in the budget from day one

The build price is a one-off. The running cost is annual, and it is the number most owners underestimate.

Sustainability Victoria notes that pool pumps can add 20 to 30% to a household energy bill, and the Australian Government's energy.gov.au guidance describes a pool pump as potentially the single largest user of electricity in a home. Both point at the same lever: the pump is the biggest ongoing cost in a pool, and pump choice and run time are where that cost is decided.

Heating is the second lever. Solar, heat pump and gas each have a different capital cost and a different cost per swimming hour, and the right answer depends on how long a swim season you want in a Melbourne climate rather than on which system is cheapest to install.

Covers matter more than most buyers expect. A blanket reduces evaporation and heat loss, which cuts water top-ups, chemical use and heating hours at once. Specifying energy efficient options at design stage costs less than retrofitting them in year three.

Safety barriers, paving and landscaping are part of the project

A pool is not finished when the water goes in. Victorian law requires a compliant safety barrier, and the barrier is priced by its length, its material and the number of gates, all of which follow from where the pool sits on the block.

Paving, decking and retaining are the other half of the surround. On a sloping site, retaining is structural work rather than decoration, and it can be a meaningful share of the total project. Budgeting for the pool alone and treating the surround as something to sort out later is the most common way a project runs over.

Small pool with glass fencing, granite paving and a timber screen wall with potted planting

How to compare two pool quotes properly

Price differences between quotes are usually scope differences. Before comparing the bottom line, compare what each one includes.

Is the safety barrier in the price, and how many gates does it allow for?
Is rock a variation, a provisional sum, or carried in the contract?
What paving, coping or decking is included, and to what area?
What pump, filtration and sanitising equipment is specified, by model?
Is heating included, and at what capacity for the pool volume quoted?
What are the payment stages, and what warranty applies to the shell, the interior and the equipment?

One more point of context. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures put the annual rise in Victorian house construction output prices at 3.7% for the year to the June 2026 quarter, with national house construction up 5.9%. A number someone quotes you from a build two years ago is a historical figure, not a current one.

Key Takeaways

Site access is the first thing to assess. Gate width, slope and spoil removal set the floor on what the excavation costs before any design decision is made.
Ask every builder how they treat rock. Whether it sits in the contract price, as a provisional sum, or as a variation is the single biggest difference between a quote and a final invoice.
Choose depth by how the pool will be used. Every extra 100mm is more excavation, more water and more heating for the life of the pool.
Compare scope before price. Barrier, paving, equipment models and heating capacity are the four line items that most often explain a gap between two quotes.
Budget the running cost alongside the build. The pump alone can account for 20 to 30% of a household energy bill, so pump and cover decisions made at design stage pay back every year.
Get a current quote for your own block. Construction prices have moved, and no two Melbourne sites price the same.

The most reliable way to understand what your own site will cost is to have someone look at it. You can see finished pools and talk through site conditions at the Albatross Pools display centres in Dandenong and Warrandyte, or request a pool enquiry to start with your block. If you are working through how to stage the investment, the pool finance page sets out the options, and the Pool Buyers Guide covers the questions worth asking before you sign anything.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2026) Producer Price Indexes, Australia, June 2026. Canberra: ABS. Available at: abs.gov.au (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (n.d.) Pool pumps. Available at: energy.gov.au/households/pool-pumps (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

Standards Australia (2011) AS 2870-2011 Residential slabs and footings. Sydney: Standards Australia.

Sustainability Victoria (n.d.) Reduce pool pump costs at home. Available at: sustainability.vic.gov.au (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

Victorian pool and spa barrier rules: an owner’s guide

Posted By Clearwater Agencyon October 8, 2026

In Short

Every pool or spa in Victoria capable of holding more than 300mm of water must be registered with the local council. That includes above ground, indoor and relocatable pools (Building and Plumbing Commission, 2026a).
The barrier standard that applies to your pool is the one that was in force on the date it was built, not the current one. This is the point most owners get wrong.
Victoria uses three construction date bands: before 8 April 1991, 8 April 1991 to 30 April 2010, and 1 May 2010 onwards. Each has its own compliance checklist (Building and Plumbing Commission, 2026b).
A barrier compliance certificate must be lodged with council every four years.
A revised standard, AS 1926.1:2024, was published on 3 September 2024 (Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 2024). Victorian requirements continue to reference AS 1926.1-2012.

Most Victorian pool owners meet the barrier rules at the worst possible moment: when a certificate falls due, when a property is going to market, or after a council inspection has found something.

The rules themselves are not complicated. They are specific, and the version that applies to you depends on when your pool was built rather than what the current standard says. This guide sets out how the system works in Victoria, what gets checked, and where barriers most often fail.

Plunge pool behind frameless glass pool fencing in a landscaped Black Rock garden

Why Victoria regulates pool barriers so closely

Royal Life Saving Society Australia recorded 357 drowning deaths nationally in the 2024 to 2025 reporting year, a 27% increase on the ten year average. Swimming pools accounted for 10% of those deaths, and 68% of the pool drownings occurred in backyard pools (Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 2025).

Victoria is one of only two Australian states that require regular barrier inspections state-wide (Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 2024). That is why Victorian owners face a registration and certification cycle that owners in most other states do not.

Which pools and spas the Victorian rules cover

The threshold is water depth, not pool type. If the structure is capable of holding more than 300mm of water, it is captured.

Permanent in-ground pools and spas
Above ground pools, including soft-sided and inflatable pools that meet the depth threshold
Indoor pools
Relocatable pools

Owners must register the pool or spa with their local council (Building and Plumbing Commission, 2026a). Registration is not optional, and the Building and Plumbing Commission notes that failure to register within the required period can attract an on-the-spot fine or penalty. Fees and penalty amounts are set by each council, so the figure differs depending on where you live.

Small rectangular pool with wide entry steps beside a brick garden wall

The barrier standard that applies depends on your construction date

This is the part that catches people out. A barrier does not have to meet today's standard. It has to meet the standard that applied when the pool was built, and Victoria groups pools into three date bands, each with its own compliance checklist.

Your council determines the construction date. Where records are unclear, it may draw on building permits, registration details, council records, real estate listings and aerial photography to establish when the pool was built (Building and Plumbing Commission, 2026a).

Construction date	Applicable checklist	What it means in practice
Before 8 April 1991	Checklist 1	The oldest pools, assessed against the barrier requirements in force at the time rather than current specifications
8 April 1991 to 30 April 2010	Checklist 2	Covers a large share of Melbourne's suburban pools, including many built during the 1990s and 2000s
From 1 May 2010 onwards	Checklist 3	Newer pools, assessed against the most recent Victorian barrier requirements

Source: Building and Plumbing Commission (2026b). If your pool has been substantially altered or relocated since it was built, the applicable date may change. Your council or a registered building surveyor can confirm which checklist applies to your pool.

Compliance certificates and the four year cycle

Registration is the first step. A barrier compliance certificate is the ongoing obligation.

For a new permanent pool, the first certificate must be lodged within 30 days of the occupancy permit being issued.
For a relocatable pool, the timeframe is four days after it is erected.
After that, a new compliance certificate must be lodged every four years.

Certificates are issued by a registered building surveyor or building inspector who is authorised to carry out barrier inspections. Booking that inspection is the owner's responsibility, and the four year clock runs from the date of the last certificate rather than from a fixed calendar date.

Where pool barriers most often fail

Barriers rarely fail because the fence itself is wrong. They fail because something around the fence has changed since it was installed.

Small pool enclosed by glass fencing with established trees growing close to the barrier

Non-climbable zones

A barrier is only as effective as the space around it. Anything that gives a small child a foothold near the fence line can compromise the barrier, even when the fence meets every dimension. Pot plants, pool equipment, furniture, retaining walls, tree branches and rainwater tanks are the usual culprits, and they tend to arrive gradually over years rather than on day one.

Gates and latches

Gates must be self-closing and self-latching (Building and Plumbing Commission, 2026b). Hinges and latches wear, springs weaken, and gates drop on their hinges over time. A gate that closed properly at the last inspection may not close properly now, and a gate propped open during a party is a barrier that is not working.

Changes to the surrounding structure

A new deck, a raised garden bed, a shed moved closer to the fence or a window altered on a wall that forms part of the barrier can all change compliance without anyone touching the pool fence. Renovation is the most common trigger for a barrier that was compliant becoming non-compliant.

Aerial view of a small pool and spa with a timber deck and glass pool fencing

What AS 1926.1:2024 changes

Standards Australia published a revised version of the home pool safety barrier standard, AS 1926.1:2024, on 3 September 2024. Royal Life Saving Society Australia reports that the revision introduces new definitions, revised non-climbable zone requirements, improved gate latch and hinge security, and guidance on combined structures that form part of a barrier (Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 2024).

A new standard does not change your obligations by itself. Each state decides when and how to adopt it, and Victorian barrier requirements continue to reference AS 1926.1-2012 (Building and Plumbing Commission, 2026b). If you are building a new pool or replacing a barrier now, it is worth asking your builder and your building surveyor which version your project is being designed to.

What to do if you are not sure where you stand

If you have bought a property with an existing pool, or you cannot remember when your last certificate was lodged, the sequence is straightforward.

Contact your local council and confirm whether the pool or spa is registered, and what construction date is recorded against it.
Ask the council when the last compliance certificate was lodged and when the next one is due.
Book an inspection with a registered building surveyor or authorised inspector.
Walk the barrier yourself first and clear the non-climbable zone of anything that has crept in.

This article is general information about how the Victorian system works. Whether a specific barrier complies is determined by your local council and a registered building surveyor, not by a builder or by a checklist read online.

Key Takeaways

Register first. Any pool or spa that can hold more than 300mm of water must be registered with your council, and that includes above ground and relocatable pools.
Find your construction date. It determines which of the three Victorian checklists applies to your barrier, and your council holds the record.
Diarise the four year cycle. A new compliance certificate is due every four years, timed from the last certificate rather than a fixed date.
Walk the non-climbable zone every season. Pot plants, furniture, equipment and growing branches are the most common reason a compliant barrier stops being compliant.
Check gates and latches yourself between inspections. Self-closing and self-latching hardware wears out, and a gate that sits open is a barrier that is not working.
Treat any renovation as a compliance event. Decks, garden beds, sheds and window changes near the barrier can all affect it.

If your barrier needs work as part of a wider update to the pool, a pool renovation enquiry is a sensible starting point. You can also see how barriers are integrated into finished pools at the Albatross Pools display centres in Dandenong and Warrandyte, or get in touch about a new pool if you are planning a build and want the barrier designed in from the start rather than added at the end.

References

Building and Plumbing Commission (2026a) Pool and spa registration requirements. Melbourne: State Government of Victoria. Available at: bpc.vic.gov.au (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

Building and Plumbing Commission (2026b) Pool safety barriers. Melbourne: State Government of Victoria. Available at: bpc.vic.gov.au (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

Royal Life Saving Society Australia (2024) New Australian Standard for home swimming pool safety released. Sydney: RLSSA. Available at: royallifesaving.com.au (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

Royal Life Saving Society Australia (2025) National Drowning Report 2025. Sydney: RLSSA. Available at: royallifesaving.com.au (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

Standards Australia (2012) AS 1926.1-2012 Swimming pool safety, Part 1: Safety barriers for swimming pools. Sydney: Standards Australia.

Standards Australia (2024) AS 1926.1:2024 Swimming pool safety, Part 1: Safety barriers for swimming pools. Sydney: Standards Australia.

How to choose a pool colour?

Posted By Peita Otterbachon November 25, 2023

With so many pool colours to choose from, selecting the perfect pool colour for your backyard can be a tricky process. Clients often begin by asking to see the most popular pool colours when visiting our swimming pool display centres. Yet, like most trends, what is popular today may not be popular tomorrow. For this reason we encourage our clients to consider a number of important factors when choosing a pool colour.

Look and Feel

Before you begin to think about pool colour, first consider the look and feel you would like to create in your backyard. Are you after a tropical oasis, a Tuscan haven, a natural lagoon, or a modern chic outdoor space? Be sure to consider the style and exterior tones of your home. The theme of your backyard will begin to guide you towards a colour palette to work from.

The Pool Colour

Depending on the size of your swimming pool, your backyard design may feature your swimming pool as the centerpiece in its design. Like any centerpiece, it should compliment the desired look and feel whilst adding the ‘wow’ factor to the overall design.

Factors to be considered when choosing a pool colour include your backyard theme, pool surrounds, water reflection and water temperature, just to name a few. To ensure the process of choosing a pool colour is as simple yet enjoyable as possible, we’d encourage you to use the information below as a reference point when selecting the right pool colour for your swimming pool.

Explore Light Pool Colours

With so many pool colours to choose from, selecting the perfect pool colour for your backyard can be a tricky process. Clients often begin by asking to see the most popular pool colours when visiting our swimming pool display centres. Yet, like most trends, what is popular today may not be popular tomorrow. For this reason we encourage our clients to consider a number of important factors when choosing a pool colour.

Look and Feel

Before you begin to think about pool colour, first consider the look and feel you would like to create in your backyard. Are you after a tropical oasis, a Tuscan haven, a natural lagoon, or a modern chic outdoor space? Be sure to consider the style and exterior tones of your home. The theme of your backyard will begin to guide you towards a colour palette to work from.

The Pool Colour

Depending on the size of your swimming pool, your backyard design may feature your swimming pool as the centerpiece in its design. Like any centerpiece, it should compliment the desired look and feel whilst adding the ‘wow’ factor to the overall design.

Factors to be considered when choosing a pool colour include your backyard theme, pool surrounds, water reflection and water temperature, just to name a few. To ensure the process of choosing a pool colour is as simple yet enjoyable as possible, we’d encourage you to use the information below as a reference point when selecting the right pool colour for your swimming pool.

Explore Light Pool Colours

Pair Your Light Pool Colour With

Pool Reflection

A lighter pool colour will draw your eye to the bottom of the swimming pool, and you may be more inclined to notice settled debris.

Pool Water Temperature

A lighter pool colour will reflect the sun's rays, and cooler pool water may result. There is also a high potential for glare.

Explore Dark Pool Colours

Pair Your Dark Pool Colour With

Pool Reflection

A darker pool colour will reflect the pool surrounds and create a mirror-like effect. You will be less likely to notice and settled debris at the bottom of the swimming pool.

Pool Water Temperature

A darker pool colour will attract and absorb the sun's rays. A darker pool colour may increase your pool water temperature by 2-3°C.

Impact of Water & Natural Light

When people renovate or build, it is common to collect samples (bench top, splash back tile, paint swatch, cabinetry colour, etc) to see if the combination works well and creates the desired look and feel. In the case of a pool and it’s surrounds, it is important to consider the impact of water and natural light (bright Summer’s day vs. dull Winter’s day) - samples can take on a completely different look and feel.

Helpful Pool Design Tip

Take your favourite pool coping tile sample to your pool builder’s display centre and place it alongside a pool with your chosen pool colour featured. Be sure to ask the team if your favourite colour isn't featured in a display pool as there are often large samples available which can be placed in a pool so you can see the impact of water and daylight. This is the best way to get a feel for how your dream pool space will look!

Pool Colour Samples taken inside under artificial light

Pool Colour Samples taken in an Albatross Display Pool (water movement and natural light)

Pool interior colours featured in both examples above from left to right:
Dark Blue - Costa Rica - Casablance - Bahama - Reef Pebble

The choice is yours!

Visiting a Display Centre is the best place to start when planning your new pool project! Open seven days a week year round (closed public holidays), the Albatross Pools Display Centres in Dandenong and Warrandyte showcase 11 of the total 18 Aqualux Pool Interior Colours currently available across both locations. Already chosen your favourite pool colour but want to see it in a functioning swimming pool? Be sure to check which pool colours are featured at each Display Centre.

See you there, and don't forget your swimmers!

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Case Study: Warrandyte South In-Ground Pool Project

Posted By Clearwater Agencyon August 5, 2022

Protecting the Planet with an Eco-Conscious Residential In-Ground Pool Project

More and more people are looking for ways to realise their residential pool dreams without having a large impact on their environment. Recently, we had the pleasure of working with a client with such ambitions. Harbouring a passion for protecting and preserving the native environment surrounding his property, he had a clear view of what he wanted. By working with a traditional design and minimal landscape, we at Albatross Pools were able to embrace a classic style for maximum impact.

Originally quoted three years before the contract approval, this project was a long time in the making. To produce the best outcomes for our client, the leading pool designer posed a challenge to our client, and suggested an alternative to the client’s original vision for the pool’s location. The removal of three gum trees was required for the optimum positioning of the in-ground pool - a recommendation that took the client years to digest. In the end, he decided that if the gums must be removed, then he would plant an additional fifteen on his property to compensate for the impact on the environment – and he did!

Deleted: Not only motivated by his drive to preserve the natural environment, our client also wanted to focus on creating a design to suit the needs of his grandchildren, producing a safe and practical space for them to enjoy. With a clear direction, and a traditional, yet customised design to work with, construction could now get underway.

Sustainable Solutions for Constructing This Build

Spanning 10.0m in length, 4.0m in width, and ranging from 1.0m to 1.8m in depth, this in-ground pool design incorporated a variety of features targeting the client’s requirements. Particular focus was placed on the pool entry with the design of three custom steps. The middle step was created to be large enough to act as a wading area – ideal for small children. With the addition of a gas-heated system using four concealed deck jets positioned along the length of the pool, our client created the ultimate space for his grandchildren to enjoy all year round.

Rock was detected in the initial Geotech report, which can cause complications in the initial preparation of the land, but fortunately, the excavation and construction of this in-ground pool project were largely uninterrupted. Instead, the main challenges arose from our client’s determination to minimise the environmental impact of the machinery and the techniques of our team. As a solution, the use of specialised equipment was required to develop an unconventional access path throughout the project to avoid further impacts on the environment. Upon completion, the excavation and construction were actually a resounding success, for both our team and the client’s concerns for conservation.

An Alfresco Space to Connect the Pool to the Residence

The proximity of the new pool to the client’s home inspired further design elements regarding the outdoor space. Driven by a desire to connect the residence and the pool itself, our client designed and built an expansive deck area complete with a kitchenette. Retirement was right around the corner, after all, and the client was motivated to be able to have one eye on the grandkids, and the other on the BBQ, fulfilling his dream of spending more quality family time in his beautiful outdoor space.

Featuring a stunning blue pebble-like interior finish, the swimming pool is surrounded by a single row of bluestone tiles, set against a lawn of lush green grass. The minimal landscape both respect and connect the surrounding native environment with the client’s family home, creating a beautiful balance of natural and constructed elements, and offering an outdoor space this Warrandyte South family will enjoy for years to come.

Discover More About Our MPBAA Award-Winning Pool Designers & Builders at Albatross Pools

As one of Melbourne’s leading custom pool builders, we at Albatross Pools have helped thousands of clients realise their dreams of the perfect pools and outdoor spaces. With pre-engineered parts available to be assembled on-site, we create simple and flexible installations. What’s more, our experienced team is always ready for a challenge and enjoys employing creative and innovative solutions that provide our clients with their ideal designs. Feel inspired for your next project with our gallery of completed pools, or learn more about what we offer by contacting our team today.

Case Study: Moonee Ponds In-Ground Pool

Posted By Peita Otterbachon July 29, 2022

A Year-Round Sensation: Moonee Ponds Residential Vinyl-Lined In-Ground Pool

Just prior to COVID-19 entering our shore, our team received an enquiry from a client seeking inspiration and suggestions on how to transform their garden into a space to be enjoyed all year round. Naturally, their vision had a pool at its heart, and we at Albatross Pools worked to create a design functioning as an extension of the residential build completed only 2 years previous. The onset of the pandemic did unfortunately create certain limitations on their family’s preferred lifestyle, which then also influenced the design of this extension, as well as the budget.

Taking everything into consideration, we presented the client with plans for a courtyard-style, vinyl-lined swimming pool, custom-designed to meet their requests. Working alongside a dedicated landscape designer, our final vision included an alfresco area with an outdoor kitchen and a louvred roof, providing opportunities for open and closed roof options, meaning the family could enjoy their garden for longer, even if the weather turned sour.

Delighted with the plans, the client signed off, and we were ready to get building!

Constructing a Climate Controlled Courtyard Swimming Pool

As mentioned above, the primary request from the client was for their family to utilise their new garden design for as much of the year as possible. What better way to address this need than with a heat pump introduced into the swimming pool for temperature control? Along with six Venturi Spa Jets and a Spa Blower located on the pool floor, the pool can transform into a spa-like space at any moment they wish. Combined with a pool profile tailored to suit the client’s requirements for custom seating in the shallows, these additions ensured the courtyard pool can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Our designers and builders also know the pool zone had to offer welcoming surroundings and backdrops for the pool itself. In doing so, challenges presented themselves throughout the permit approval process, as neighbours would not provide consent for the proposed 2.8m feature screens to enhance the space.

While proving more complex than initially anticipated, a beautified pool zone was eventually achieved using Scyon Axon cladding for the fence lines, as well as radial timber screens with a bench and shower. These features offered some natural warmth, whilst providing the desired functionality for seating and rinsing off. Set in the rear corner of the property, the courtyard swimming pool spans 5.0m in length and 2.5m in width.

Utilising Space & Surroundings from Design Conception to Completion

Visible from the alfresco area, the bordering walls and grey tones of the pool zone are softened by lush plants, feature pots, and the natural tones of the timber batten feature wall of the outdoor shower space. The inclusion of granite tiles brings out the natural grey and black flecks of the swimming pool’s pebble-like vinyl liner. This combination of aesthetics creates an entrancing, shimmering natural lagoon colour in the water; the slightly green tones present in this façade are complemented using sage green pool-adjacent sun lounges. These simple additions create a timeless feel within the pool area and provide a strong connection to the established home with multiple living areas.

Further adding to the outdoor décor, layered plantings and diagonal wires for Star Jasmine climbing plants inject just the right amount of greenery, striking a perfect balance between the natural and artificial.

Although compact, the result of this courtyard, vinyl-lined swimming pool project unquestionably meets all our client’s requests and requirements, showing small spaces can still pack a punch with just a little planning and the assistance of a talented landscape designer. Again, as a direct result of the pandemic, added disruptions were placed on us throughout the build, resulting in subsequent delays and bringing an added layer of complexity to what would have been an otherwise straightforward project. Regardless, thanks to the enduring appeal and everlasting style, we know this swimming pool and outdoor space will tick all the boxes for this young family in Moonee Ponds for years to come.

Contact Us at Albatross Pools to See Your Design Dreams Come True

With over 50 years of experience in the industry, our team at Albatross Pools has worked with a range of clients and industry partners across Melbourne and wider Victoria. For this particular project, working with landscape designer Anthony Scott and Outdoor Landscapes enabled us to harness the talents of industry professionals to complement our own offerings and deliver something truly special for our clients.

As one of the state’s preferred choices for pool designers and builders, we are passionate about tackling challenges, creating designs, and finding inspiration in any project. To learn more, contact our MPBAA winning team today.

Case Study: Essendon West Entry Project

Posted By Peita Otterbachon July 22, 2022

Hamptons Hideaway: A Custom Vinyl-Lined Plunge Pool for a Residential Courtyard

Assisting in the design and creation of a family home is an experience like no other. Our team at Albatross Pools were fortunate to have this opportunity when we were commissioned to deliver a custom courtyard pool to accompany a new, Hamptons-inspired residence. Set on a corner block in Hamptons Street in Essendon West, this light, bright and white space was both challenging and complex.

Adjacent to a busy suburban street, this property’s outdoor courtyard was designed to maintain the privacy of its residents. To protect the integrity and privacy of the space, we had to adhere closely to council planning requirements, such as offsets, and work diligently to maintain the structures and measures in place.

These restricted building conditions on the site, plus other limitations, such as the residential piering design, tight spaces and working alongside the builder’s schedule, resulted in a finished design featuring a courtyard pool alongside a beautiful outdoor space. Elevated 0.9m above the natural fall of the property, the construction of this swimming pool presented a variety of challenges and required additional structural engineering. We knew this project would present unique challenges testing our skills – and it did not disappoint.

A Project Well Beyond the Normal Scope of Work

With highly-specific and custom fabrications of pool components, not to mention the additional structural engineering required, this project demanded solutions above and beyond our normal scope of work. Surrounded by a complete bond beam, the bracing system of the swimming pool construction needed to be carefully designed around the piering layout to ensure we were able to meet the requirements of both the separate residence and alfresco area.

A compact design, this rectangular courtyard pool covers 6.0m in length and 3.0m in width. To ensure we met all our client’s requirements, special consideration was given to the custom floor profile and pool entry area. Doing so meant we could achieve the functional needs of the swimming pool for the entire family. By including modifications to the battered edges of the pool floor profile, we were able to create a greater swimming area in both the shallow and deep ends of the pool. It was this attention to detail that helped us create the perfect design to realise our clients’ vision.

A Stunning Hamptons Design Brought to Life

On the surface, tranquillity reigns, but beneath the surface lies a different story. Designing this pool with the tones of textured, sandstone-like surfaces created a visually stunning, turquoise water colour, instantly beloved by our client. Surrounded by natural stone tiles, the grey fittings located inside the swimming pool itself were selected to connect with and complement the chosen colour of the safety barrier spigots. These aesthetics, paired with the latest embossment design on the vinyl-lined pool interior, align beautifully with the original Hamptons inspiration, emulating the textured patterns and shades of natural stone.

The overall effect of our design provides the swimming pool and surrounding courtyard space with a relaxing atmosphere and a calming experience for the entire family to enjoy.

With many challenges to overcome and problems to solve, our team worked diligently to deliver our clients their heart’s desires. Through complete customisation across the entire project, including working within the limitations of a small courtyard space, the desired function, finish, and style have undoubtedly been achieved, all without compromise for our client.

We are very pleased to announce, the Master Pool Builders Association Australia (formerly SPASA VIC) award this plunge pool project GOLD for The Best Residential, Vinyl-Lined In-Ground Pool at the awards night for 2022!

Custom Design & Construction Available Across Melbourne & Wider Victoria with Albatross Pools

We at Albatross Pools are MPBAA (Master Pool Builders Association Australia) Award winners, with our designs and constructions appealing to and satisfying a diverse clientele across Victoria. Working with ground-breaking designs including steel and pre-engineered inground swimming pools, we provide rapid, custom installation for models of any shape, size, or depth. Learn more about how we work, and what we can offer our clients by contacting one of our talented professionals today! For ideas and inspiration on your next swimming pool design journey, you can even browse our gallery of swimming pool installations in Melbourne

Case Study: Brighton East Plunge Pool Project

Posted By Peita Otterbachon February 7, 2022

Good Things Come in Small Packages: Brighton East Plunge Pool Project

As the old saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages’, and that was certainly the case with this project in Brighton East. The client had a modest, triangular-shaped outdoor area, in which they had desires of introducing a pool that was as large as possible. The difficulty arose as this pool was to go alongside an existing spa, and the client had also contracted landscape designers to find space for a lawn, fire pit, and an area for two spacious lounge chairs. While many might have thought this impossible, our team saw the opportunity for a challenge, focusing on the continuity of the space by delivering a practical layout that utilised proper balance and proportion.

Initial plans had the pool placed at an equal level to the deck, but after the discovery of a flood overlay, the team realised this was not a viable option and had to create an alternative solution. This took collaboration between everyone involved in the project – our pool builders and designers, the landscape architect, the landscapers, and of course the client – to re-situate the pool to the property’s lowest point.

After overcoming the challenges presented throughout the project, the finished result was a pristine 5.5 metre by 3-metre pool with a specially designed step for easier entry and exit, alongside a bench to promote better relaxation. The site itself for the plunge pool was alongside the rear and side of the boundary, as this was deemed the best position to complement the shape of the space, while also enabling ample sunlight to reach the lounges. To make the most of the limited room available, the clients opted to utilise an inground cover pit to store the thermal pool blanket, allowing them to keep the temperatures at comfortable levels all year round with their heat pumps.

With our help, our clients finally received their dream of creating a pool zone steeped in a sense of continuity with their wider outdoor area.

Utilising Balance & Proportion from Initial Designs to the Final Completion

The initial stages of the project were obviously centred on overcoming the issues presented by the flood overlay. In fact, this one factor pushed back the overall timeline to over 12 months, which is a considerable amount of time for any outdoor project. Even entry to the site needed to be carried out through a 1.2 metre opening in a neighbouring property.

The decision was then to continue the use of existing timber that could be found on the upper level of the home, establishing a flowing, continuity feature with the steps that led out from the alfresco area and into the pool’s lower zone. The steps can now serve multiple purposes, as they also provide an excellent seating area across the property’s levels.

To connect the pool to the firepit area, bluestone paving was wrapped around the perimeter and continued throughout the artificial turf of the lawn with the use of well-placed stepping pads, creating a stunning contrast in both colour and form.

With a focus on the overall balance of the final result, all features were taken into the design before construction took place, including sun lounges, lawns and the bench seating that evolved into a comfortable nook on the property. Once completed, this proved essential, as the new inclusion of a lower-level pool zone revitalised the tight space available without making it feel cramped or confined. The client’s family had a range of practical and welcoming outdoor features to enjoy all year round in a highly aesthetic space.

Engage with Albatross Pools to Bring Your Designs to Life

In more than 50 years of service, Albatross Pools has worked with more than 16,000 clients throughout Melbourne and wider Victoria. As one of the state’s longest-running and most renowned pool designers and builders, we thrive on creating solutions for challenging and creative projects, offering unmatched pre-engineered steel pools that perfectly meet client requirements and are ready for rapid assembly on site. To learn more, review our gallery of past projects, or contact our MPBAA winning team at Albatross Pools today.

Case Study: The Ship’s Deck

Posted By Peita Otterbachon January 24, 2022

The Ship’s Deck – a South Yarra Pre-Engineered, In-Ground Plunge Pool for a Residential Courtyard

Recently we had the pleasure to work with clients in the heart of South Yarra undertaking an exciting project. After purchasing an old, outdated block of flats, they were looking to create one larger, family home that would accommodate three generations at once. Naturally, they quickly realised that no family estate would be quite complete without a gorgeous swimming pool set amongst their stylish courtyard.

Our clients made clear their specific desires of having a custom, partially elevated plunge pool that would still be considered a part of the home’s living and dining space. As a result, the pool itself was built 1.2 metres above ground level, and had to include a specially engineered beam and piers systems to adequately elevate the wall panelling. This presented a range of unique challenges but eventuated in a design spanning 6.0m in length and 3.25m in width, with an accommodating entry point for all members of the family, from children to grandparents. Thanks to well placed, frameless glass pool fencing, the sunken area of the pool itself continues to blend uninterrupted with wider features of the outdoor space, such as the kitchen, basketball area, vegetable garden, and even a putting green. Paired with the existing rustic red brick offering a striking juxtaposition with the calmer whites and greys of the sundeck, as well as the luscious blues of the pool’s interior reminiscent of Costa Rican coastlines, it is certainly an enviable spot to relax and call home.

Overcoming the Challenging Logistics of a Narrow, Inner-City Location

As mentioned above, challenges revolved around this particular project, largely from gaining access to the site. The property was located in a slim, inner-city street, requiring a 1.5m entryway needed to be cut into the garage’s rear wall simply to make logistics possible for the required teams and machinery. A 2.0m drop that started from the back door of the property to the garage then added further complexity and complications to the initial excavation and ongoing construction in the area.

Another request made by the client was for all pool equipment to be hidden from view. This included the electric heat pump, which we successfully concealed inside of a long, thin corridor measuring 2.5m by 1.2m, which required extensive consideration surrounding the pool’s hydraulic design of the plumbing systems for the sake of securing optimal efficiency. Alongside the electric heat pump, the finished pool also had a range of energy-efficient equipment, a freshwater sanitisation system, concealed pool blanket, and lights sporting a range of dazzling colours, creating an ideal spot to be with extended family and friends every month of the year.

Christening the ‘Ship’s Deck’

The family had affectionately named this area of their property the ‘Ship’s Deck’ – a perfect summation for a cool, wooden sundeck alongside a crystal-blue plunge pool. The series of engineering and logistical challenges proved well worth it as the finished result offered a unique, low-maintenance and beautiful space to enjoy in a variety of ways for every member of their family. More photos of this plunge pool project can be browsed on the South Yarra Project Gallery >

Albatross Pools – MPBAA Award Winning Pool Designers & Builders

For over half a century, the team at Albatross Pools have operated as one of Melbourne’s leading custom pool builders, helping thousands of clients bring their dream designs to life. We are Master Pool Builders Association of Australia Award-winning pool designers and builders who love a challenge, offering pre-engineered parts that are available to be assembled on site, creating a simple, flexible and accelerated installation for whatever size or shape your swimming pool may be. For more information and inspiration, take a moment to browse our gallery of swimming pools completed across the state, visit our two display centres or contact us at Albatross Pools directly today!

Case Study: Elevated Freeform Swimming Pool

Posted By Peita Otterbachon November 4, 2021

Overcoming Challenging Site Access & Building Constraints to Deliver a Custom-Designed, Elevated Swimming Pool in North Warrandyte

Albatross Pools thrives when providing residents of Melbourne and wider Victoria with innovative swimming pools. We enjoy taking on projects that many would deem too difficult, and this was certainly the case with our recent clients from North Warrandyte, where the skills of our team were put to the test.

The family home was purchased largely because of the opportunity to gaze upon the Yarra River below and out over wider Warrandyte. Despite being 2000sqm, unfortunately the property ‘s rear third was unusable, much like many North Warrandyte properties experiencing a steep fall of the land. An aged, multi-levelled decking area and portable spa constituted most of the outdoor entertaining area, but the family still felt too much of the space wasn’t meeting its full potential. This was most noticeable with an absent connectivity of internal and external living spaces, as well as a failure to capitalise on the impact of the bushland vista surrounding the property.

The solution? Navigate the difficult foundations present within the property and reimagine the deck area, creating a relaxing entertaining space, complete with alfresco dining area, a sunken retreat zone, and of course, an elevated freeform swimming pool.

Naturally, this was a big task, and required the careful collaboration of highly skilled landscape designers, builders, and our expert pool designers to bring the project to life. The finished result was certainly worth it, though, with the family overjoyed at finding the area transformed. Now, they have an alfresco space updated to include an outdoor kitchen and dining area next to a tranquil sitting space, relaxing fireplace and television station, where they can quickly move to immerse themselves in an elevated swimming pool custom-built to mimic the contours of a natural lagoon; all before cosying around the fire pit found in a sunken native garden, finally able to absorb the mesmerising Warrandyte bushland laid out before them.

Exploring the Cooperation of Albatross Pools & the Landscaping Team During the Build

This wasn’t a simple project, as we have mentioned above, but it was an excellent opportunity to have our expertise contribute to a wider vision. Anthony Scott Landscape Design was initially engaged to formulate how the property’s upper bank could work to create a variety of living zones capable of providing both year-round entertainment, whilst also acting as a seamless connection between the home and the adjacent bushland. To help with this, an elevated, freeform swimming pool was selected with curved edges to soften the angular lines overly apparent across the deck and residence.

To make this happen, our designers and builders at Albatross Pools had to carefully coordinate their efforts with the professionals at Parkview Landscapes, who were the landscapers handling the execution of the designs, to develop the wave and deep spring curves desired during the component fabrication. Additional attention also had to be placed on the custom floor profiling and bespoke step and bench design featuring multiple tiered concaves and cervixes, as this work goes beyond those of a standard project, regarding fabricating a pool interior with a perfect fit for the allotted space to ensure integrity isn’t compromised.

At the time of installation, we encountered further difficulties, as the property was located on a site where access to the pool was limited. Excavation was made challenging by the sizeable fall of land along the access path, and given the desired finishing height of the pool, combined with the soil condition in the chosen location, further structural engineering was required, including piering.

Appreciating the Completed Result of the Elevated Swimming Pool

Here at Albatross Pools, we love when our team can stretch their talents and deliver a custom designed pool that meets our clients’ every request and more. With the North Warrandyte project, the 6.5m x 5.8m freeform swimming pool was designed to resemble a naturally flowing lagoon, shaped like a fluid triangle, with three distinct waves pulling closer to the home. The antique colour with an interior imitating black pebbles contributes to the lagoon-aesthetic, complemented by the neighbouring bluestone, raw steel elements and large format natural timber decking. There is also a fluid step and bench design introduced to the pool’s internal construction, and edges pushing to sweep across the length of the extended decking space to create the infinity-like feel desired for the final result. With a depth that spans from 1.1m to 1.8m, the corner ‘wave’ holds the deeper area, filled with a set of spa jets alongside a feature ledge to produce the illusion of immersing in a natural deep spring found amongst the Australian bush – the perfect spot across the expansive residence to find tranquillity and intimacy with the beautiful surroundings.

MPBAA Award-Winning Swimming Pool Designers & Builders at Albatross Pools

Despite the complexity of the project, it all appears worth it now, given the family’s delight at seeing their North Warrandyte property – initially purchased for the views – finally catering to their desires for a space to appreciate it.

For over 50 years, Albatross Pools has worked with a selection of clients to deliver a range of MPBAA (Master Pool Builders Association Australia, formerly SPASA Victoria) Award winning steel, pre-engineered swimming pools across Melbourne and wider Victoria. For more information, review our swimming pools Melbourne gallery, or start a conversation with our expert team by contacting Albatross Pools today!

In Short

Size is not the main thing that changes a pool's cost

Plunge and courtyard pools: smallest footprint, often the hardest site

Lap pools: length is the cost, and you may need less of it than you think

Family pools: depth and shape do more to the price than footprint

Running costs diverge more than build costs

The questions that settle which pool you build

What will the pool be used for most weeks of the year?

What can physically reach the site?

How much yard do you want to keep?

Does anyone actually need a deep end?

How long a swim season do you want?

Where will the safety barrier run, and how many gates does that need?

Key Takeaways

References

In Short

Site access and excavation set the floor on your pool cost

Access width and what it rules in or out

Melbourne soil, rock and reactive clay

Pool type and size change the cost equation.

Interior finish, water type and equipment

Running costs belong in the budget from day one

Safety barriers, paving and landscaping are part of the project

How to compare two pool quotes properly

Key Takeaways

References

In Short

Why Victoria regulates pool barriers so closely

Which pools and spas the Victorian rules cover

The barrier standard that applies depends on your construction date

Compliance certificates and the four year cycle

Where pool barriers most often fail

Non-climbable zones

Gates and latches

Changes to the surrounding structure

What AS 1926.1:2024 changes

What to do if you are not sure where you stand

Key Takeaways

References

Look and Feel

The Pool Colour

Explore Light Pool Colours

Look and Feel

The Pool Colour

Explore Light Pool Colours

Pair Your Light Pool Colour With

Pool Reflection

Pool Water Temperature

Explore Dark Pool Colours

Explore Dark Pool Colours

Pair Your Dark Pool Colour With

Pool Reflection

Pool Water Temperature

Impact of Water & Natural Light

Helpful Pool Design Tip

The choice is yours!

Related Posts

Protecting the Planet with an Eco-Conscious Residential In-Ground Pool Project

Sustainable Solutions for Constructing This Build

An Alfresco Space to Connect the Pool to the Residence

Discover More About Our MPBAA Award-Winning Pool Designers & Builders at Albatross Pools

A Year-Round Sensation: Moonee Ponds Residential Vinyl-Lined In-Ground Pool

Constructing a Climate Controlled Courtyard Swimming Pool

Utilising Space & Surroundings from Design Conception to Completion

Contact Us at Albatross Pools to See Your Design Dreams Come True

Hamptons Hideaway: A Custom Vinyl-Lined Plunge Pool for a Residential Courtyard

A Project Well Beyond the Normal Scope of Work

A Stunning Hamptons Design Brought to Life

Custom Design & Construction Available Across Melbourne & Wider Victoria with Albatross Pools

Good Things Come in Small Packages: Brighton East Plunge Pool Project

Utilising Balance & Proportion from Initial Designs to the Final Completion

Engage with Albatross Pools to Bring Your Designs to Life

The Ship’s Deck – a South Yarra Pre-Engineered, In-Ground Plunge Pool for a Residential Courtyard

Overcoming the Challenging Logistics of a Narrow, Inner-City Location

Christening the ‘Ship’s Deck’

Albatross Pools – MPBAA Award Winning Pool Designers & Builders

Overcoming Challenging Site Access & Building Constraints to Deliver a Custom-Designed, Elevated Swimming Pool in North Warrandyte

Exploring the Cooperation of Albatross Pools & the Landscaping Team During the Build

Appreciating the Completed Result of the Elevated Swimming Pool

MPBAA Award-Winning Swimming Pool Designers & Builders at Albatross Pools