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All Australia Box Hill Surrey Dive

Surrey Dive

This former brickworks pit is full of legends about its murky depths.

Box Hill, Australia

Added By
Philip
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Box Hill Brickworks behind Surrey Dive.   Ben Snooks
Box Hill Brickworks behind Surrey Dive.   Ben Snooks
When the Dive was at its most popular as a swimming hole in the 1920s-30s.   Rose Stereograph Co
Surrey Dive today.   Philip Mallis / Atlas Obscura User
Surrey Dive   Edward Haughton
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About

Surrey Dive is a deep waterhole that was transformed into Australia's first swimming venue to meet Olympic standards during the early 20th-century. It became known as one of the premier swimming venues the country.

Melbourne was once home to over 50 brickworks located around the city. Many were clustered around certain locations due to the type of soil present.

The Box Hill Brickworks opened during the 1880s and began excavating clay from a nearby hole. After the site was temporarily closed in 1892, the large hole slowly filled with water from an underground spring and eventually became a local swimming hole. 

At over 100-feet (40-meters ) deep, the site gained a notorious reputation. Several people died in the swimming hole, including 14-year old Thomas Walsh in 1905. There were also ongoing rumors about workers trapped in the bottom of the pit along with machinery. By the 1980s the decision was made to fill in the hole, making the dive an ornamental lake. 

Today, it's the centerpiece of Surrey Park, complete with a pleasant walking track. Model boat clubs often use the dive. A few of the old Box Hill Brickworks buildings still remain next to the swimming hole. They are closed to the public, but can be seen from the fenceline.

Related Tags

Swimming Pools History & Culture Construction Legends

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Added By

Philip Mallis

Published

November 2, 2020

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Sources
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-12/curious-melbourne-history-of-surrey-dive-veritable-death-trap/9285176?nw=0
  • http://bpadula.tripod.com/montalbert/id13.html
  • http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/nmets.do?DOCCHOICE=453219.xml&dvs=1601807159639~583&locale=en_AU&search_terms=&adjacency=&VIEWER_URL=/view/action/nmets.do?&DELIVERY_RULE_ID=4&divType=&usePid1=true&usePid2=true
Surrey Dive
31 Surrey Dr
Box Hill, 3128
Australia
-37.825394, 145.117401
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Nearby Places

Box Hill Brick Works

Box Hill, Australia

miles away

Skipping Girl Sign

Abbotsford, Australia

miles away

'Mullum Mullum the Owl'

Ringwood, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Box Hill

Box Hill

Australia

Places 2

Nearby Places

Box Hill Brick Works

Box Hill, Australia

miles away

Skipping Girl Sign

Abbotsford, Australia

miles away

'Mullum Mullum the Owl'

Ringwood, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Box Hill

Box Hill

Australia

Places 2

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