Balmain Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balmain Reservoir |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Status | decommissioned |
| Construction started | 1914 |
| Completed | 1915 |
| Closed | 1965 |
| Owner | MWS&DB |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Dam volume | 2,376,000 gallons |
The Balmain Reservoir is a very old, unused water storage tank. It is hidden underground beneath Gladstone Park in Balmain, a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This large, covered reservoir used to hold about 2.3 million gallons of water!
Contents
What is the Balmain Reservoir?
The Balmain Reservoir is shaped like a rectangle. It is about 55 meters (180 feet) long and 33 meters (108 feet) wide. The reservoir is also about 6.7 meters (22 feet) deep.
Inside the Reservoir
The reservoir is split into two big rooms. A strong wall, about 4.7 meters (15.5 feet) thick, divides these two rooms. This wall also holds up a walkway. The roof of the reservoir, which is made of reinforced concrete, is supported by many concrete pillars. These pillars are spaced about 3.6 meters (12 feet) apart in both rooms. The park above the reservoir sits right on top of this concrete roof.
Access and Ownership
To get inside the reservoir, you have to go through a building next to it called the valve house. This valve house goes down two more floors underground. The lowest floor used to hold all the pumping machines. Today, the entire Balmain Reservoir, including the valve house and any old equipment, is owned and looked after by Sydney Water.
History of the Balmain Reservoir
The Balmain Reservoir was built in 1915. It was constructed by a group called the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage, Sydney.
How the Reservoir Got Water
When it was first built, the reservoir received its water from Potts Hill. The water flowed to Balmain using gravity, which means it traveled downhill without needing pumps.
Park Restoration and the Bandstand
An interesting condition for building the reservoir was that Gladstone Park had to be restored. Also, a bandstand had to be built in the park. This was part of the agreement for the reservoir's construction.
Why the Reservoir Closed
The Balmain Reservoir was used for many years. However, in 1965, a new reservoir called Petersham Reservoir was opened. Because the Petersham Reservoir could do the job, the Balmain Reservoir was no longer needed. It has been unused ever since.
| Valve House | |
|---|---|
Balmain Reservoir Valve House
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|
| General information | |
| Status | decommissioned |
| Construction started | 1919 |
| Completed | 1919 |
| Closed | 1965 |
| Owner | MWS&DB |
The Valve House
The valve house next to the reservoir was built a bit later, in 1917. It is located on the side of the park that faces Booth Street. You can still see the valve house today, along with the old foundations of the bandstand. In 2006, the work done to restore the valve house won a special award from the National Trust of Australia for its heritage value.
