It’s been a long time, but beloved local icon the ‘Wenty Dolphin’ has officially returned home to the Wentworthville Memorial Swim Centre.
Originally installed in November 1965 at the opening of the Wentworthville Memorial Swim Centre, the dolphin quickly became a feature at the baby and toddler pool.
For years, generations of local children formed cherished memories with the dolphin.
One resident, Tony Micallef, shared his fond recollections of spending time at the pool.
“Generations of local children including myself, can remember climbing under and over it,” he said.
Despite the sculpture holding a special place in the hearts of the community, it was removed from the swim centre in the 1990s due to safety concerns.
However, former Holroyd City Council Operations Manager Sam Micallef couldn’t part with him. Instead, he carefully placed the dolphin in his shed at Kurrajong in NSW to safe keep a vital piece of local history.
After many years, Cumberland Council restored the Wenty Dolphin and is thrilled to announce its return to its rightful home, the Wentworthville Memorial Swim Centre.
Mayor Lisa Lake said that the dolphin is a part of the pool’s history which holds special memories for many community members.
“Like our local children, dolphins are very smart and they love to socialise and play,” she said.
“I’m really happy to see our famous Wenty Dolphin back where he belongs in the company of our local families having fun at Wenty Pools.”
The community was invited to journey down memory lane at the statue’s official unveiling at the swim centre last Saturday.
The Wentworthville Memorial Swim Centre offers a range of activities and programs to the public including learn to swim classes, aqua aerobics, lap swimming, recreational swimming and more.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.