1929 - present

Bondi Icebergs Club began in 1929 when a group of local life savers banded together to form a winter swimming club so they could keep up their fitness and socialise during the winter months.

The Club was established formally, with a constitution and elected office bearers. To show the seriousness of their intentions, in the 1940s the historic 15B rule was added to the constitution. It laid down that swimmers had to compete on 3 Sundays out of 4 for a period of 5 years, after which they gained lifetime Swimming Membership. Should a swimming member fail to comply with this rule, they needed to provide a written explanation for their absence, otherwise they faced possible suspension from all Club swimming events or a transfer to Social Membership. In 2001 when the Club was undergoing a $10milllion redevelopment, the winter swim sessions were held at Nth Bondi. In 2016, when a storm forced the closure of the pool for several weeks, it was decided that, to avoid the enforcement of the 15B rule, swimming members were required to turn up at the pool to gain a credit for each week.

To become a swimming member, a person must be proposed by a current swimming member and seconded by another swimming member. A less stringent Social membership is available allowing use of the pool, bar and bistro areas.

The club has had many chapters and changes throughout its’ history. When a liquor license was acquired in 1960, the club moved from a tin shed into comfortable premises with bar and poker machines. Further updates took place in the 1970s, enabling the Club to operate on two floors.

The “Bondi Icecubes” were formed in 1985. Children aged between 5 and 17 can join, but must be able to swim at least 40 metres. The Club also provides swimming lessons for children during the months of October to May.

In 1995, the club evolved again with the allowance of female swimmers into the exclusively male club.

The opening of the present premises in 2002 owed much to a consortium led by John Singleton which helped to gain financial assistance from the State Government as well as providing financial help themselves. However, the Club was left with a substantial debt, which, thanks to the business acumen and hard work of several Presidents and members of the Board, was paid off by the end of 2016.

The new premises enabled Surf Life Saving to move into the 1st floor, the Clubhouse into the 2nd floor, while the top floor was taken over by a fine dining and bar facility. Social activities are provided each Sunday after the swimming sessions, as well as several nights during the week for swimming members.

Various charities have been supported by the Club over the years, often through a swim-a-thon open to both members and the public.

Courtesy the Waverley Library Local Studies Collection and the Mitchell Collection, State Library of New South Wales.