One such spot, Ellalong Lagoon, is part of Cessnocks swimming folklore.

This beautiful, natural waterway was enormous and blessed with a continual flow of water. Charles and Eva Jaggard are credited, along with many local young people, with developing the lagoon into a swimming pool.

By the 1930s the lagoon had its own swimming club and its own organisation, the Ellalong Swimming Baths Committee, which charged an admission to swim in the lagoon.

The Committee even created a learners pool, excavating part of the lagoons bank to form a shallow swimming area. This Committee was so organised that it arranged for a dedicated bus service to run from Aberdare to the lagoon every Sunday.

Its gala swimming and sports carnivals attracted competitors from premier amateur swimming clubs as far away as Newcastle.

Power was run to the lagoon from a nearby coal mine (possibly illegally), allowing lighting for night-time swimming events. A 6.7 metre tower with springboards was constructed for diving competitions and dressing sheds built.

For entertainment the Bellbird Band played regularly on Sundays and sports days, creating a musical background for people picnicking in the landscaped grounds adjoining the lagoon. In 1939 the Greta Army Camp opened and the following year a large contingent, estimated to be about 100 soldiers and officers, made a visit to the lagoon.

The Secretary of the Ellalong Swimming Club, Charles Jaggard, was a former military man and so gave them a warm welcome. In patriotic solidarity he announced that any military personnel could use the lagoon free of charge whenever they wished.

Ellalong Lagoon was bought by Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) in 2012, purchased as an environmental offset for a giant T4 coal-loader. Under the terms of their acquisition of the lagoon and its surrounding lands PWCS is obliged to restore and enhance the areas biodiversity features in order to boost migratory bird and fauna activity.

There is a good drone view of the Ellalong Lagoon taken two years ago at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zhvlIKTmV4. Sadly the lagoon has been badly hit by the drought and you can see a contemporary view of it taken this month at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=688N5bWJ7Nk

Kimberly OSullivan is the Local Studies Librarian at Cessnock City Library. Contact her at Kimberly.OSullivan@cessnock.nsw.gov.au. The Library is located at 62-78 Vincent Street. Phone 4993 4399.