Victoria Reservoir (fmr)

Statement of Significance

• EDUCATIONAL VALUE a) The cut-away section of the dam gives a rare illustration of early concrete dam construction; the imperfections and weaknesses which lead eventually to its demise can be seen clearly. b) The history of the reservoir and its water quality problems presents a prime example of land-use conflict, and reflects the gradual realisation by the public health authorities of a direct connection between human occupation of the catchment and contamination of the water supply. It brought the first recognition of the need for a closed catchment policy to protect water quality. HISTORIC/SOCIA L SIGNIFICANCE a) The dam was the first large dam built in Western Australia. b) The reservoir formed Perth's first permanent source of potable water and its history reflects the urging by the Sanitation Commission of 1885 and others for a reliable source of drinking water for public health purposes. RECREATIONAI/f OURISM & LANDSCAPE SIGNIFICANCE The remaining sections of the dam wall will be retained to enable the public to interpret the original site and will become a prominent feature of extensive landscaping and public access areas planned for the area downstream of the new dam. The Water Authority will install a permanent public display illustrating the history of the reservoir and waterworks. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICA NCE The dam and waterworks reflect the work of or association with a succession of important or interesting figures. These include: J. Barratt and HJ.Saunders, the designers; N.McNeil and W. George, respectively constructor and works manager; E.V.H. Keane, entrepreneur, railway contractor, timber miller and at timews Mayor of Perth and Chairman of the first Waterworks Board; W. Traylen, Chairman of the second Waterworks Board and fellow "sanitary reformers" A. Waylen, E. Scott and H.C. Barnett, members of the Sanitation Commission.

Physical Description

The dam and reservoir basin cover an area of approx 18 hectares centred on Munday Brook between Douglas and Canning Roads. Located 22 km south of Perth GPO along Welshpool and Canning Roads. The dam is 1S km south of Masonmill Road along a sealed road (unnamed). The Victoria Reservoir was the first dam built to supply water to Perth. It was constructed between December 1889 and October 1891along with a 12 inch diameter outlet main, a service reservoir at Mount Eliza and reticulation pipes into the city. It constituted Perth's first permanent piped water supply. The dam was a curved unreinforced concrete wall with vertical upstream face and sloping downstream face, and depended largely on its mass and the location of the centre of gravity to resist the overturning thrust of the impounded water. The wall had a radius of metres in plan and a maximum height of 22 metres. The original intake tower was located on the upstream face in the centre of the wall. The tower enclosed a semi circular shaft containing a central vertical 12 inch diameter (305 mm) riser pipe and control valve. A 12 inch outlet pipe passed from the vertical riser and through the dam wall. The original intake tower and outlet pipe were decommissioned in 1966 and replaced by a rectangular reinforced concrete shaft and a new and larger outlet main. The dam has had a variety of spillways during its life. In 1966 a 18 inch and 12 inch thick reinforced concrete skin was placed over the entire upstream face, to reduce leakage and to prevent further deterioration of the old concrete, and an enlarged spillway was built on the left abutment This was deepened in 1988 and in April 1990 the dam was finally taken out of service an the reservoir was drained. In about December 1990 the centre section of the wall was demolished to make way for construction of a new larger concrete dam metres upstream. The remaining sections of wall will be retained to enable interpretation of the original site and will become a prominent feature of extensive landscaping planned for the area downstream of the new dam.

History

Assessment: 1991 Construction 1889 - 1891 Contemporary reports show that "bywash" channels were excavated on each side of the valley above the reservoir basin and a concrete diversion weir was built at the upstream end before the main wall was started. it is assumed these works were to bypass stream flows during construction (wesson). The concrete weir and sections of the southern bywash channel still exist but will mostly be submerged by the new reservoir. The history of the early years of the water supply revolved ) around two problems : water quantity and water quality. From 1891 to 1899 there was a succession of dry years and average rainfall was achieved only once. Obtaining water became an acute problem. This was also a period of unforeseen enormous population increases in Perth due to the goldrush. At the same time problems with the pipeline also reduced the flow of water to the city. Water quality was affected by natural factors but more by pollution from grazing land and the timber mills and associated settlements flourishing on the catchment. It was found there were over 200 people living on the banks of a stream which flowed into the reservoir. The 1820's were marked by epidemics of typhoid, smallpox and diphtheria. In 1897 a water sample was shown to contain typhoid bacilli and other dangerous contaminated matter. The causes and remedies attempted from time to time form aq fascinating history. The engineering of the waterworks and its management history and the remaining fabric all reflect the contribution of a succession of important or interesting figures. These include: Henry John Saunder, Civil engineer and James Barrat, surveyor and civil engineer, the original designers of the scheme . Barratt left W.A. before the scheme was completed but Saunders remained to later become a company promoter, Perth City Councillor and politician. Edward Vivian Harvey Keane, Construction manager and later Chairman of the first Waterworkers Board 1896- 1898: railway contractor, timber mill owner, Perth City Counci l lor, Mayor of Perth and pol itician; Neil McNeil, Construction contractor; rai lway contractor and pioneer in the W.A. Timber industry. William Traylen, Chairman of the second Waterworks Board 1898-1904: ex-clergyman, vocal temperance advocate and sanitary reformer, politician, later mayor of Guildford. Wi l liam George, construction manager and first works manager, mechanical engineer, politician, later Minister for Works . Member of the 1885 Sanitation Commission and strong supporter of sanitary reformers Dr. Alfred Waylen (Chairman) Colonial Surgeon, Dr. Edward Scott and Dr. H .C. Barnett, respective Mayors of Perth and Fremantle in 1890/91

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