Named after a local politician in 1883, historic Elkington Park, in Balmain is the perfect family friendly (and dog friendly) park in Sydney’s Inner West.
Located on the foreshore, it overlooks the magnificently restored late-Victorian (1884) timber enclosure at the tidal Dawn Fraser Baths – where Australia’s all-conquering 1956–64 Olympian Dawn Fraser sacrificed her youth swimming laps.
Play equipment
You will find the play equipment for kids under the huge spreading branches of native fig trees. It’s a small and simple play structure that is ideal for younger toddlers and the good news is that it IS fenced (which means it gets a double thumbs up from Out & About Baby).
There are also four swing sets outside the fenced part of the playground too as well as a beautiful old bandstand which is a great spot for imaginative play and kids parties.
Dawn Fraser Baths
The Dawn Fraser Baths is a tidal flow salt water pool. At low tide there is even have a beach for the kids to build sandcastles.
Fun fact for the kids: The first game of Water Polo in Australia was played at this venue and home to the Balmain Water Polo Club which was established in 1884
| Entry Prices 2016/17 Season | |
| Adult (17 yrs and over) | $5.40 |
| Child (5 – 16 yrs) | $3.70 |
| Child under 5yrs (with paying adult) | FREE |
| Full-time Student (ID Required) | $3.70 |
| Senior Concession | $2.80 |
| General/Pension Concession* | $1.60 |
| Family ‘A’ (1 adult and up to 3 children) ^ | $11.40 |
| Family ‘B’ (2 adults and up to 3 children) ^ | $15.70 |
| Extra Family child | $2.00 |
| Extra Family ‘B’ adult ^ | $2.70 |
Toilets
There are public toilets available in the park but no baby change facilities.