Pool of the Year is the top honour in the Australian pool trade. Aquarius Pools has won it several times at state and national level. Aquarius Pools’ industry awards include Victorian Pool of the Year titles from 2012, 2016, and 2021, plus a national title in 2016. Furthermore, this article explains each win and what the title signals to buyers.
Key Takeaways
- Pool of the Year is a major award in the SPASA program, not a single-category prize.
- Aquarius Pools won the SPASA Victoria title in 2012, 2016, and 2021.
- The 2012 win recognised the Peninsula Hot Springs facility.
- In 2016, the company also won gold for Pool of the Year at SPASA Australia.
- The 2021 title appears in sources under both SPASA Victoria and Master Pool Builders Association names.
- Other builders, such as Apex Pools & Spas in 2017, have also won the title.
- Readers should verify wins through SPASA winners lists or the company’s recognition page.
What Pool of the Year Means in the SPASA Program
SPASA runs its Awards of Excellence each year across construction, design, products, and service. Within that program, Pool of the Year sits among the major awards. In other words, it rewards one standout project rather than one category. Moreover, trade media list it first when they report winners. Pool of the Year awards therefore signal the highest recognition a builder can earn in a season. However, the title changes hands often, so each win reflects strong competition.
The 2012 Peninsula Hot Springs Win
Aquarius Pools headlined the 2012 SPASA Victoria Pool of the Year Award. Remco Pool Covers and Enclosures sponsored the title that year. The winning entry was the Peninsula Hot Springs facility, which includes multiple spas, pools, and a grotto. Additionally, the company won Best Commercial Pool and Best Pool, Spa and Landscape Combination in 2012. Consequently, the builder collected several top honours in a single season.
Double Gold in 2016
The 2016 season brought a rare double result. Aquarius Pools won gold for Pool of the Year at both SPASA Victoria and SPASA Australia. The Victorian gala took place on June 26 at The Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne. Furthermore, SPLASH Magazine listed the company first among the major awards that night. Indeed, state gold winners advance to the national round, so success at both levels shows steady approval from judges.
The 2021 Title and How Sources Describe It
The 2021 season added another Pool of the Year title. Aquarius Pools’ recognition page lists it as a SPASA Victoria award. Meanwhile, SPLASH Magazine and Complete Home describe it as a Master Pool Builders Association award. In other words, sources name the awarding body differently. Additionally, the winning family pool earned gold for Residential Concrete Lap Pool and for Residential Concrete Pool and Spa over $100,000. Therefore, readers should cite the exact source when they quote the result.
Why These Titles Carry Weight
Entry to the SPASA Awards of Excellence is open only to SPASA members. Moreover, judges can award gold, Highly Commended, or no award at all in each category. Accordingly, a win means the entry met a clear standard, not merely that it competed. Not only does the title reward design, but it also rewards construction quality and professionalism. For example, the program states that it encourages competency and helps consumers identify award winners.
What Recent Winners Have in Common
Published profiles point to a few shared traits. Custom design comes first, since Aquarius Pools builds bespoke concrete pools and spas. In addition, the 2021 pool credits Cera Stribley Architects, which shows close work with architects. Furthermore, the 2012 winner combined several pools, spas, and a grotto in one large facility. On the other hand, the 2016 and 2021 winners served private homes. As a result, the title has covered both commercial and residential work.
Reading the Award Record Accurately
Winners change, so readers should check each claim. Apex Pools & Spas, for instance, took the Remco Pool of the Year Award in 2017. Therefore, no builder holds the title permanently. Specifically, look for the year, the awarding body, and the exact award name. Readers can then match Aquarius Pools’ industry awards to SPASA winners lists and trade coverage from SPLASH Magazine.