THE PORPOISE POOLS BY MAL SUTHERLAND

LOCATION: SNAPPER ROCKS

DATE: CIRCA 1963

Snapper Rocks has been a magnet for surfers and beach goers for decades. Back in the 1950s, the construction of ocean pools attracted swimmers, until legend has it two local fishermen installed two dolphins in the pools that they’d accidentally netted. Local identity Jack Evans was canny enough to sense an opportunity and opened the Jack Evans Porpoise Pools, wherein he trained the dolphins to perform tricks for eager tourists. Eventually Jack moved to a purpose-built facility in what is now Jack Evans boat harbour and the pools were demolished. Pioneer surf photographer Mal Sutherland points out: “The concrete wave break wall and pumping station walls are the only sections of the original structure standing today.” You can also see a coin operated telescope in the foreground of this image from 1963. Generations of kids have got their thrills crouching behind the remnant wall of the pools,

now known as tube rock, as waves explode on the wall and cascade over them.