A Suburban Oasis: Sunnybank's Oasis Swimming Pool & Gardens
By Troy Keith, Queensland Memory, State Library of Queensland | 24 May 2021
For decades there was an Oasis, a much-loved complex of pools and tropical gardens located right in the middle of suburban Sunnybank in Brisbane! The Oasis Swimming Pool and Gardens was eight acres of lawns, tropical gardens, three swimming pools, a children's wading pool, playground, miniature zoo of native birds and animals, a tearoom, dance floor and reception centre that was used for many local weddings and events. The tropical gardens themselves attracted national and international attention.
The Oasis was created by Mrs Mabel Pottinger and her two sons, Norman and Lewis who turned their former flower, fruit, vegetable and poultry farm into the attraction. It all started in 1937 when the family built a tennis court amongst their well kept lawns and gardens. The family then added a swimming pool, digging it themselves by hand, drilling two bores and a well to draw water. The Pottinger's opened their facilities to the public in 1938 as the Oasis Tourist Gardens. The Oasis really started to take off in 1942 when during the Second World War thousands of American military personnel stationed in Brisbane used the Oasis as a rest and recreation venue. Over the years Norman and Lewis continued to add pools and new attractions to the property to increase patronage. The Oasis remained a popular Brisbane attraction for 51 years until in 1989 the owners sold the property to developers to build a housing estate. By 1989 attendance numbers had slumped with the increase ownership of backyard swimming pools and automobiles, meaning people could now easily drive to the beaches of the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.
To document this historic Queensland attraction, the John Oxley Library has collected photographs, postcards and manuscripts relating to the Oasis Swimming Pool and Gardens. An example of this material is below. If you have any of your own material relating to the Oasis, please consider donating these to the John Oxley Library collection by emailing qldmemory@slq.qld.gov.au.
Oasis complex in Sunnybank, Brisbane. Part of the Sands Card series of postcards. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 194765
Oasis swimming pool, Sunnybank, Brisbane, 1964. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 97303
Two women posing in bikinis at a swimming pool. 31557, W A Jones & Co photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 31557-0001-0414
Swimmers at the Oasis Swimming Pool in Station Road, Sunnybank, Brisbane. 32027, Rosemary Spenceley's colour slides of Brisbane and Southeast Queensland. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 32027-0001-0009
Man diving into the swimming pool at the Oasis in Sunnybank, 7032 Kahlert collection of colour slides. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 7032-0001-0084
People relaxing by the swimming pool at the Oasis Gardens in Sunnybank. 7032 Kahlert collection of colour slides, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 7032-0001-0085
Aerial view of houses with backyard swimming pools, Brisbane 1955-1965. (Area believed to be Oasis Swimming Pool and Gardens). 28413 Rob Tonge's Slides. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 28413-0001-0005
Oasis Gardens photographs. 31510 Peter Fischmann Oasis Gardens photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image numbers 0001-0003 (left) and 0001-0001 (right)
Oasis Gardens photographs. 31510 Peter Fischmann Oasis Gardens photograph. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 31510-0001-0004
Oasis Gardens photographs. 31510 Peter Fischmann Oasis Gardens photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 31510-0001-0008
Oasis Gardens photographs. 31510 Peter Fischmann Oasis Gardens photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 31510-0001-0009,
31886/14 Don Finlay motion picture collection, Wood chop competition. See 10.24 for film footage of the Oasis Swimming Pool and Gardens. (State Library of Queensland collection)
27396/18 Trevor Cottee Collection 1928-1969, Film 17: 'Family reel 5'. See 5:27 for film footage of the Oasis Swimming Pool and Gardens. (State Library of Queensland collection)
32165 Edgar Tolmie motion pictures, 1945-1970, Film 10. See 4:16 for film footage of the Oasis Swimming Pool and Gardens and the mini-zoo. (State Library of Queensland collection)
View the collection...
- OneSearch catalogue records on all material on the Oasis Swimming Pool and Gardens
- 31510 Peter Fischmann Oasis Gardens photographs
Many people have nostalgic memories of the Oasis, be it taking a cool dip on those sweltering summer afternoons, meeting friends at the kiosk or attending events in the reception venue surrounded by the world class tropical garden. Please comment below and share your memories.
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