In 50s Brisbane Mayor Reg Groom
A spacey swimming pool decrees
To shake away country town gloom
And make the city bustle ‘n’ boom
For its centenary.
Groom calls the city architect
James Birrell’s keen for this project
His Toowong Library has much creative spark
He conjures iron and glass excitingly
And brings much art to Wickham’s new Car Park
The man’s a master of modernity.
He builds the complete aquatic complex
A grandstand, bathhouse and Olympic pool
With water for waders and a swim school
Plus spiral diving tower with four decks
And to highlight the aesthetic effects:
The restaurant is raised, afloat in air
With cantilevered, curvilinear flare
That hangs somehow above the pool below
With twisting walls and floating floors that glow
Through glittering glass quite celestial
Giving a vibe that’s extra-terrestrial.
The restaurant has many different chefs
But Caribbean did best in my taste tests:
There’s mango chilled with lime, garlic and heat
Hot Cuban curry served with paw-paw jam
Carné Fiambré loaf of minced prawns, beef and ham
Phulouri split pea fritters, fried down deep
Lamb, bacon and pineapple skewered rare
Jamacian Pudding and Peppermint Pear.
The shadow of this home of pleasure
Floats midway on the pool
Where is heard the mingled measure
Of glasses clink and music cool.
It is a miracle of rare device
A glowing spaceship offering treats with spice!
I dream the Gobies played the Pools
They call all dancing fools
From Spring Hill to Victoria Park
As evening light turns to dark
Our bliss their music fuels.
First Nations dance corroboree
To lift newcomers up
The land owns us, we come to see
All drink the same sweet cup.
It is a dream but could come true
It’s not too late to start
To make sub-tropic life anew
A people’s paradise we brew
The city splendid comes into view.
Let’s join with James and make life art
There’s no utopia not handmade
The city blooms, Arcadian glade
With humans at its beating heart.