Pingaring Rock Water Tank

Statement of Significance

The place represents the beginnings of settlement and the railway line in Pingaring. It represents the ongoing sustainability of the town and district. It demonstrates associations with developments in the broader history of settlement through the depression years.

Physical Description

Concrete tank 2 million gallon capacity. The timber framed corrugated iron roof was replaced in 1969 with a floating foam roof which was shattered when the Meckering earthquake affected the area.

History

The water catchment potential and provision for the reliable source of water for workers, settlers and the train, made Pingaring Rock a point on the proposed railway spur line from Lake Grace to Hyden via Karlgarin. The railway finally came through Pingaring in 1931 (see Ref ), by which time the construction of the water catchment was underway. The construction workers were sustenance workers, employed by the government during the Depression. The water catchment was constructed at the same time as the railway line, and provided a water supply for those workers on the railway construction. The water catchment was Pingaring Rock. A cement water catchment wall was built over 30 acres of the rock and the water was guided into the concrete storage tank by a series of concrete troughs and open drains, into a pipe. From the storage tank, the water was piped by gravity feed over 2 kilometres to the overhead Railway Water tank at Pingaring siding, to supply the steam trains which began running in 1932. Water from the tank was made available to the local farmers for household and stock water use. A standpipe was located at the main tank which is west of Pingaring Rock, on the town side of the Rock. After diesel trains began running in the early 1960s, and the steam trains were discontinued, the water supply was no longer required for the railways, and the pipes and tank fell into disrepair. Eventually, after pressure from the local Farmers Union branch, the Water Supply took over the tank, cleaned it, and replaced the roof. They also connected a direct water service to the school house, school, sports ground and homes in the Pingaring townsite, as well as providing a standpipe at the Pingaring Hall. In 1993 government funding was made available to Pingaring farmers for a "self help" water service, the project involved 27 kilometres of connection pipeline, and 33 days of community voluntary labour, with the result that 14 farms are serviced along the main pipeline, and it also services the main Pingaring Rock tank supply. A celebration for the completion of the water service was held at the Pingaring Golf Club in October 1995, and the event is commemorated with a plaque at the standpipe in Pingaring.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: intact Authenticity: high degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update