Burdekin River Pumping Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burdekin River Pumping Station
Burdekin River Pumping Station, 2009
Location	Weir Road, Breddan, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1870s - 1890s (late 19th century)
Built	c. 1887 - 1910s
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Burdekin River Pumping Station (former), Charters Towers Water Supply Scheme
Type	state heritage (built, archaeological)
Designated	3 July 1995
Reference no.	601081
Significant period	1880s-1910s; 1942 (fabric) 1880s-1960s (historical)
Significant components	engine/generator shed/room / power supply, tunnel - water, chimney/chimney stack, machinery/plant/equipment - utilities - water supply, tramway
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The Burdekin River Pumping Station is a historic site near Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1887 and the 1910s. This pumping station was a key part of the Charters Towers water supply system. It helped bring water from the Burdekin River to the growing town. Today, it is recognized for its important role in Queensland's history.

Why Was the Pumping Station Built?

Gold Rush and Water Needs

In the late 1800s, Charters Towers was a very rich gold mining town. It was one of the biggest and most important mining areas in North Queensland. As more people moved there for gold, the town grew quickly.

However, there was a big problem: water. The local creeks were not enough. In dry seasons, the town relied on wells, and mining work slowed down. People needed a reliable water supply for their homes and for the mines.

Planning the Water System

In 1878, an engineer named John Baillie Henderson suggested a plan for a water supply system. But it was expensive, so nothing happened right away.

Then, from 1883 to 1885, there were very dry years. A newspaper editor, Thadeus O'Kane, led a public campaign. He pushed the government to provide enough water for Charters Towers. This was also a time when many cities around the world were building water and sewer systems.

In 1886, a cheaper plan was made. It involved building one pumping station instead of two. Water would be pumped from the Burdekin River through a large pipe. It would go to a reservoir (a big storage tank) on Tower Hill in Charters Towers. From there, gravity would send the water to homes and businesses.

Getting the Project Started

A group called the Burdekin Water Scheme Joint Board was formed. This board included members from the local councils. They were in charge of the project. They had to get loans to pay for the huge project, which cost about £80,000.

Land was set aside for the pumping station and the pipes. The pumping station itself was built on a large area of land. This land also provided wood to fuel the steam engines.

Building the Pumping Station

Engineers and Challenges

John Baillie Henderson designed the plans. Frederick Talbot Joyce, an engineer from London, was chosen to manage the building site.

In 1888, a company in England, Hathorn Davey & Company, was ordered to build a powerful steam engine. This engine was designed by Henry Davey, a famous engineer. His design made steam pumps much more efficient.

Building the pumping station was not easy. There were many problems and delays. The project was very big, and there weren't enough skilled workers. There were also disagreements between the engineers.

Construction Progress

Despite the challenges, work continued. In September 1888, construction of the reservoir on Tower Hill began. Pipes were ordered from London. Trenches were dug for the pipes, and bridges were built to carry the pipes over small creeks.

By January 1889, a long tunnel (about 52 meters) was finished. This tunnel would bring water from the river to the pump. The pump shaft was also dug deep into the ground.

A big problem came up in April 1889. The boilers (which heat water to make steam for the engines) that arrived from England were designed for coal. But the station was meant to burn wood! The company offered to pay for new furnaces to be built for wood. This was accepted, and brick furnaces were installed.

Finishing the Project

By August 1889, the tall chimney was being built. More disagreements led to changes in engineers. Eventually, William Bolland took over as the site engineer. He stayed in charge of the water system for many years.

An engineer from England came to install the pump engine. The pump started working in February 1891. By August 1891, the whole water system was running. Over 1,000 homes were connected to the water supply. By 1894, more than 3,000 places had running water.

Changes and Upgrades Over Time

Dealing with Floods and Droughts

In 1894, floods caused problems. Dirty water threatened the pump, and the intake tunnel filled with silt. To fix this, two shafts were dug deep into the riverbed. This allowed the station to get sand-filtered water.

The years 1895-96 were very dry. The demand for water was so high that a second pump engine was bought and installed in 1896.

The wood supply for the engines on the western side of the river ran out. So, a low bridge was built across the river. A tram track was laid for about 2.4 kilometers to bring wood from the eastern side of the Burdekin River.

The Big Weir

The 1890s were very dry, and by 1900, Queensland was in a severe drought. Charters Towers' population grew to 26,780 people by 1900. The water system couldn't keep up.

In 1902, the Board built a huge weir (a low dam) upstream from the pumping station. William Bolland designed it. It was 274 meters long and could hold 1.8 billion liters of water! This weir was very impressive for its time. It even became a tourist attraction.

Later Changes

In the 1910s, more improvements were made. An aerial tramway (like a flying fox) was built across the river. This replaced the bridge that was washed away in a flood. In 1915-16, the old boilers were replaced with new ones from local mines.

The steam pumps continued to work until 1942. At that time, electric pumps were installed in a new building behind the old ones. This was needed because Charters Towers' population grew a lot during World War II, as many military personnel were stationed in the area. The electric pumps worked until 1975.

After the war, one of the old steam pumps was used sometimes, but the other was not. In the 1960s, the boilers were removed and sold for scrap. Parts of the engines were taken apart. In 1975, a brand new electric pumping station was built at the weir.

What You Can See Today

The old Burdekin River Pumping Station is on the western bank of the Burdekin River. It's about a kilometer south of the current pumping station.

The area around the pump station is fenced off and well-kept. You can still see many parts of the old water supply system. The ground is clear of large trees and shrubs, but the creek nearby has a lot of plants.

You might find scattered machinery parts and building materials. Some pieces have been collected to protect them.

The riverbank below the pumping station has eroded a lot over the years. This erosion threatens the foundations of the old steam pumps. The original inlet tunnel, which brought water from the river, is still there, but its entrance is covered by sand.

You can also see the remains of the aerial tramway foundations. Part of the old tram track is visible near the engines. The tall chimney still stands slightly northwest of the engines.

The steam engines and their foundations are mostly still there. Even after more than a hundred years, they are in good condition, though some parts were removed in the 1960s.

Behind the old engines, there's a building made of fibrous cement. This building was built in 1942 to hold the electric pumps. These electric pumps are still well-maintained. You can also see parts of the old rising main (the big pipe) near Sheepstation Creek.

Why is it a Heritage Site?

The Burdekin River Pumping Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on July 3, 1995. This means it's an important historical place.

• Shows History: It helps us understand how Queensland developed, especially during the gold rush.
• Rare Engines: The pumping engines here are very rare. They are believed to be the only examples of their kind (Hathorn Davey inverted cross-compound non-rotative pumping engines) still existing in the world. They are among the most important old steam engines in Australia.
• Learning Opportunity: The site can teach us more about how water systems were built and what technology was used in the late 1800s.
• Great Example: It's a great example of 19th-century water technology. It shows how local towns started to understand the importance of clean water. The water was pumped very high (about 174 meters) to Charters Towers, which was the highest in Queensland at that time.
• Technical Achievement: The engines show amazing technical skill from the late 1800s. They were designed by Henry Davey, a very important British engineer. His work greatly improved steam pumping technology.
• Important People: The pumping station is linked to the work of engineers J.B. Henderson and F.T. Joyce. They helped develop Queensland in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Engineering Heritage

The Burdekin River water supply system has also received an Engineering Heritage Marker from Engineers Australia. This award recognizes its importance in engineering history.