About The Swim Factory Australia

Why send your little one to The Swim Factory? 

Because of The Swim Factory Difference, The Swim Factory Way, and The Swim Factory Family.

What’s in a name? 

At the core of our business, which was founded by well-known local businessman Peter McMahon in 1992, is a long, rich history, preceded by McMahon’s Soft Drinks factory. 

McMahon’s Soft Drinks was started in 1934 by Frank McMahon, Peter’s father, in a small, rented factory in West Street, Woodend. By 1940, Frank bought the factory and adjoining buildings to expand operations. 

The original name, Peter McMahon’s Swim “Factory” pays homage to the original McMahon’s Soft Drinks factory where the first swim school still operates today, at 1 Martin Street, Woodend (Ipswich). 

In late 2021, the business rebranded to The Swim Factory Australia to better align with its growth plans beyond the Ipswich city limits. Peter McMahon still owns and operates the business and is involved in the day-to-day running of the business. 

McMahon’s – a rich history  

Over time, both Frank’s sons, Jim and Peter, joined the family soft drinks business. In 1977, after having survived the 1974 floods which inundated the Martin Street site, the soft drink business moved to a larger and more modern factory at Wulkuraka, Ipswich. 

As the soft drink market changed and became dominated by supermarkets and multi-nationals, the business ceased operating in 1991. Peter saw an opportunity to use the Martin Street site and change its direction to swimming, which has been a lifelong sport and passion for Peter. 

The original factory at 1 Martin Street became the home of an indoor swim school in 1992 where 10,000 Ipswich children have since learned to swim. 

In 2011, the Martin Street site was again inundated with flood waters. With the help and support of staff and the Ipswich community, the old McMahon’s Soft Drinks factory has survived to continue providing a service to the Ipswich community under our new The Swim Factory Australia banner, teaching children and adults water safety and general enjoyment of the water for almost 30 years. 

In 2015 , we proudly opened our second site at Orion Springfield Central (Springfield, Ipswich), a purpose-built indoor facility, providing the same level of service and care to eastern residents of Ipswich. 

A message from our founder, Peter McMahon

My passion for swimming began when I was a young child, and that passion has not diminished to this day. I am proud to have won gold medals in both Australian and World Titles in Surf Life Saving – Masters Divisions, and I continue to swim regularly. I still love the water. 

I have always taken immense pleasure from teaching young children to swim, which I know isn’t just about equipping them with essential survival skills for life, but also improving their self-confidence, resilience, health, fitness and sense of achievement. It’s an honour to teach them. 

That is why I created Peter McMahon’s Swim Factory, now known as The Swim Factory Australia, almost 30 years ago. Since its inception, I have not looked back. I am so proud of our wonderful staff and what we have achieved together over the years. 

Some of our staff have been with me for more than five, 10 and 15 years, and more than 20 current team members even learned to swim at The Swim Factory. The sense of family and community we have creased within our team and our broader community is something I take great pride in. 

Children learn by copying their parents' behaviours. I often notice our babies copying the moves their parents make with songs and it reminds me how much they are learning from us just by watching and mimicking our movements. They start learning at a very early age. 

The beautiful parents and grandparents who bring their children to lessons at The Swim Factory should be proud of the life lessons and values they are instilling in their little people. Learning to swim at The Swim factory really is just the beginning. 

I feel extremely proud when I see our past swimmers achieving great things, whether it is in or out of the pool. It has been a great honour watching so many of the babies I have taught over the years grow into confident, capable adults, many of whom now work for me at The Swim Factory. 

Thank you for trusting our family with the safety of your family. It’s our honour to be able to equip them with skills for life.   

Peter McMahon 

Founder 

The Swim Factory Australia