Centennial Park Reservoir facts for kids

The Centennial Park Reservoir (also known as WS001) is a historic water storage facility located at 3R Oxford Street in Centennial Park, Australia. It was designed and built by the NSW Public Works Department between 1896 and 1898. This important site is owned by Sydney Water, a government agency in New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999, recognizing its historical value.

A Look Back at Centennial Park's History

The area we now know as Centennial Parklands has a long and interesting history, stretching back 190 years. Before European settlers arrived, this land was part of the traditional country of the Gadi people. Their territory covered much of the Sydney peninsula, including what is now Centennial Park, Moore Park, and Queens Park.

Early maps from the 1790s show an area near here called "Kangaroo Ground." This name likely came from the Gadi people's practice of regularly burning the undergrowth. This helped keep the land clear and attracted kangaroos and other animals, making hunting easier.

Sydney's Early Water Supply

Centennial Parklands, which includes Centennial Park, Moore Park, and Queens Park, was once part of the "Sydney Common." This was a large area of land set aside for public use in 1811 by Governor Macquarie. It was about 490 acres (198 hectares) in size.

The common land was very important because it had a natural supply of clean water from underground sources. In 1820, a special water reserve was created within the Sydney Common. Sydney's first water supply, the Tank Stream, became polluted and wasn't enough for the growing town. So, in 1825, officials looked for new water sources.

Busby's Bore: Sydney's First Water Tunnel

John Busby, a mineral surveyor, designed a new water system. He decided to build a long tunnel to bring water from the Lachlan Swamps (within the Sydney Common) to Hyde Park in the town center. This tunnel, known as Busby's Bore, was Sydney's first piped water supply.

The tunnel was about 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) high and 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) wide. It stretched for 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) and could hold 1.5 million gallons (6.8 million liters) of water, enough for 15 days. Sydney Council took over the water supply in 1842. As the city grew, more dams were built in the swamps in 1872 to meet the increasing demand for water.

From Common Land to Public Parks

In the mid-1800s, parts of the Sydney Common began to be turned into parkland. Lord Carrington, the Governor of NSW from 1885 to 1890, wanted Sydney to have a large "grand park" for everyone to enjoy. Sir Henry Parkes, the premier, supported this idea.

Moore Park: A Place for Sports

In 1866, the Sydney City Council set aside 378 acres (153 hectares) of the Sydney Common as a recreation ground. This area was named Moore Park in 1867, after Charles Moore, who was the Mayor of Sydney. Moore Park quickly became a hub for major sporting events and entertainment. It was home to the Zoological Gardens (1879), the Royal Agricultural Society Showground, and even Australia's first golf course (1882).

Queens Park: For Community Sports

Queens Park was created in 1887. It also had a golf course for a while. Since the 1930s, it has mainly been used as a sports field by local schools and groups.

Centennial Park: The People's Park

The idea for Centennial Park was introduced to the NSW Parliament in 1887. The goal was to create a beautiful park that everyone, even "the very poorest class," could access. Centennial Park was officially created by the Centennial Celebrations Act of 1887 to mark Australia's 100th anniversary.

The park was opened on 26 January 1888 by Sir Henry Parkes. He famously said that this "grand park is emphatically the people's park." He wanted everyone to feel a connection to it.

Frederick Franklin, an English engineer, is thought to have created the original design for the park. However, Lord Carrington, Sir Henry Parkes, and Charles Moore (the Director of the Botanic Gardens, not the Mayor) are credited with making the park a reality. Charles Moore used unemployed workers to transform the native bushland into the open public space we see today.

The Reservoir's Role in Sydney's Water Supply

Providing clean water to Sydney has always been important since the first European settlers arrived. After Busby's Bore, new water sources were needed. In the 1850s, water from the Botany swamps was pumped to a new reservoir on Crown Street.

Between 1859 and 1899, five service reservoirs were built east of the city. These reservoirs helped balance water supply and demand and ensured good water pressure for homes. Centennial Park Reservoir No. 1 was the last of these five reservoirs, completed in 1899. It was larger and higher than the Paddington Reservoir, taking over its job in 1898.

In 1925, a second reservoir was built nearby to help Centennial Park Reservoir No. 1. The reservoir continues to operate at full capacity today, providing water to Sydney's eastern suburbs.

What the Reservoir Looks Like

The Centennial Park Reservoir has strong brick walls. It's built into the ground, with earth covering it to create a gentle slope. The roof of the reservoir was covered with "coke dust" and grassed over from the start. This allowed people to walk on top and enjoy views of the surrounding parkland.

Around the top of the reservoir, there's a beautiful cast-iron fence with gates, made by the Darlington Iron Works in Sydney. There's also a brick access tower in the center. These features still show the reservoir's original grand design. The reservoir is almost completely unchanged from when it was built.

Why the Reservoir is Important

The Centennial Park Reservoir No. 1 was the largest covered water storage reservoir built in Australia at the time. It's still very large even by today's standards. It's a key part of the early system that brought water to Sydney and helped the eastern suburbs grow rapidly in the late 1800s.

The reservoir shows amazing engineering skills from that time, especially its vaulted arch roof. It has been a continuous and important part of Sydney's water supply system for over a century. Its design and location within the park also make it a local landmark with a pleasing appearance. The detailed decoration on the structure shows how much importance was placed on making engineering works look good back then.

The group of three reservoirs in Centennial Park (including Woollahra Reservoir, Centennial Park No. 1, and Centennial Park No. 2) shows how reservoir construction technology improved over time. They also highlight the huge increase in demand for water as Sydney's suburbs grew. This group of reservoirs is special because of their size, design, and detailed architecture.

Centennial Park Reservoir WS001 was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999 because it meets several important criteria:

• It shows the history of New South Wales: It's a reminder of how Sydney's water supply system developed and how the eastern suburbs expanded. It also shows the engineering methods used in the late 1800s.
• It has great design and technical skill: It's a fantastic example of how useful structures were made beautiful in the 19th century. The outside is attractive, and the inside (when empty) is an amazing space with many timber posts and an arched roof.
• It's important to the community: In the early 1990s, when the reservoir was empty for repairs, many people visited it. This shows how much the public values these structures.
• It can teach us about history: The reservoir contains examples of building techniques and materials from the late 1800s. It helps us understand how the water supply system for Sydney was planned.
• It's a rare example: It's one of the few underground, covered water storage reservoirs from the 19th century still existing in Sydney.
• It represents its type: It's a great example of a large, covered water storage reservoir from its time period.