Bicton Baths

Bicton Baths
Kwoppa Kepa
View of Bicton Baths in May 2016
Bicton Baths is located in Perth
Bicton Baths
Bicton Baths
LocationSwan River, Western Australia
Coordinates32°01′41″S 115°46′39″E / 32.028136°S 115.777419°E / -32.028136; 115.777419 Edit this at Wikidata
TypeTidal gorge
Max. length52 m (171 ft)
Max. width55 m (180 ft)
Shore length171 m (233 ft)
Location
Map
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Bicton Baths is a popular swimming location on the Swan River in Bicton, Western Australia, commonly used by for prawn hunting, diving training, swimming, sport, leisure and annual events.[1]

Formally known as Bicton River Jetty and as Jetty 1248,[2] it is known to the local Aboriginal people, the Whadjuk Noongar people, as Kwoppa Kepa, meaning "beautiful water" in Noongar.

Bicton Baths were initiated by the local Melville Amateur Swimming Club, a group who had previously utilised the jetty of the quarantine station as a platform. In 1946 the Melville Water Polo Club was founded at the baths, a move which resulted in the Bicton Pool being built in 1979.

The baths themselves consist of a wooden U-shaped jetty which contains exit ladders. Bicton Baths is located in a tidal gorge and is heavily influenced by ocean water inflow. It contains a variety of wildlife, including algae, anemones, crabs, dolphins, fish, nudibranchs, shrimp, sponges and starfish.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Bicton Baths". Perth Shore Dive. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Splashing Around Bicton Baths". The West Australian. 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Melville Water Riverpark trail points of interest". Trails Australia. 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.