Two-part documentary series The Pool explores the deep nostalgia and surprising stories behind some of Australia's most revered watering holes.

Director Sally Aitken stumbled across Tamworth's guitar-shaped pool, opened in 1983, by chance.

"The research is extensive, the accolade Australia has as the most pools per capita is there for a reason - there's a lot of them," she said.

"In another series we filmed at the Frank Sinatra pool in Palm Springs and wondered if there were any musical instrument pools.

"One look at Google showed it's not only in the shape of a guitar, it's got an Australian flag and was opened by Slim Dusty."

There's more than 100 ocean pools, 1000 public pools and a million backyard pools in Australia, each with their own stories.

The documentary explores political, social and cultural issues resolved or highlighted at the pool, Moree's mineral baths feature as a battleground against racism in 1965.

Across the country, Indigenous Australians faced a colour bar from entering the public pool until University of Sydney's first Aboriginal student Charlie Perkin's Freedom Ride famously broke through the Moree turnstiles.

The two-week bus ride challenged racial inequalities, when Indigenous students were allowed in baths only as part of school.

They would be scrubbed down before they went for a dip, restricted to just one area.

The Pool explores the frontline battles fought at Australia's pools, Ms Aitken said.

"The pool was like a lightning rod, that photo of Indigenous kids going for a swim with Charlie Perkins is something anyone can understand," she said.

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"We like to think of ourselves as freedom-loving, equal, have a go and fair go.

"The pool represents that, but when it doesn't it makes that battle even more acute."

The Pool airs on ABC September 22 and 29 at 7:40pm.