WHAT WE DO
swimmable cities
Swimming is one of the most powerful ways to connect with a place.
Seeing a city from the water, feeling its temperature and currents, gives you a deep sense of being of that place. We help cities rediscover their rivers and harbours as places for people.
Why swimming matters
Stronger communities
Public bathing places are important civic spaces. Investment in swimming is an investment in equity - swimming is the leading sport for: females - 57% females total adult swimming participation; people with a disability; people who speak a language other than English at home.
Research on blue spaces suggests much of their benefit comes through increased social interaction and cohesion.
A stronger economy
OECD research shows that blue spaces are increasingly central to the economy. Clean, accessible waterfronts contribute through: tourism, hospitality, property attractiveness, investment appeal, talent attraction, recreation businesses and events.
Importantly, waterfronts that locals actively use become stronger visitor attractions because visitors are drawn to authentic places where local life is visible, not just scenic views.
Brand building
Being able to swim in the waterfront waterways reflect effective environmental management, healthy ecosystems and accessible public spaces.
Copenhagen, Helsinki and other cities demonstrate how swimming, saunas and well-designed waterfront spaces can enhance urban life. Concepts for Cornelian Bay and Constitution Dock show how swimming infrastructure could celebrate our history, support ecological restoration and create distinctive places for residents and visitors.
Better health
Research shows that access to rivers, lakes and coastlines is associated with improvements in mental wellbeing, stress reduction, physical activity, self-reported health, reduced obesity and lower mortality.
The WHO now treats blue spaces as public health infrastructure rather than simply recreation. See the report: Assessing the value of urban green and blue paces for health and wellbeing. Blue spaces should be valued in the same way as parks because they generate environmental, social, health and economic benefits.
Vision for a Swimmable City | Beaker Street Festival | August 2026
At the 2026 Beaker Street Festival, episteme teamed up with architect Mat Hinds of Taylor and Hinds Architects to present a vision for Hobart as a Swimmable City.
Swimming and bathing have been part of life on the Derwent or timtumili minanya for thousands of years, beginning with the Muwinina and Mumirimina people. By the 1840s, Hobart had established public river baths, well before London, and swimming became an important part of the city's social and recreational life. Industrial pollution eventually disrupted this relationship, but improvements in water quality are creating opportunities to reconnect.
The vision includes an accessible and beautiful floating platform that supports existing uses and encourages engagement with the water in Constitution Dock. There is the possiblity of saunas and other commercial operators to engage with the project.
The water is monitored and clean. For many years, we have been unable to enjoy any access to the water on Hobart’s waterfront. The Derwent Estuary Program has been monitoring the water quality of the estuary for a long time and is now clean enough to swim right in the waterfront area, where we have already hosted the Iron Man and other swims in recent years.
Swimming is part of our identity. Many cities in the world have turned their backs on their waterways. Hobart has a different story. Being connected to the water is part of who we are and now it is restoring to health, we can enjoy it as part of ours.
The presentation built on conversations with the City of Hobart and a range of community, environmental and industry stakeholders about what a swimmable Hobart might look like. This is an opportunity to restore an important relationship between our city, our people and the river.
Contact us for more information on the vision →
Hobart as a swimmable city
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