Known as the 'Australian mermaid', Annette Kellerman originally took up swimming to strengthen her polio crippled legs. After making her mark as a competitive swimmer in London in the 1920s, she came into prominence as a Vaudeville performer. Her spectacular underwater ballet performances taking her around America and Europe. She is credited with creating the woman's one piece swimming costume and was a prominent campaigner for women's health and fitness. Her life was immortalised in the 1952 film 'Million Dollar Mermaid'.

External Links

Annette Kellerman, Biography accompanying her Costume Collection, Powerhouse Museum

Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre, Enmore