Chatswood Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chatswood Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2 |
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Chatswood Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2, 559 Pacific Hwy, Artarmon, NSW]]
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| Location | 559 Pacific Highway, Artarmon, City of Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | NSW Public Works Department |
| Owner | Sydney Water |
| Official name: Chatswood Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2; WS024 & WS025 | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 18 November 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1321 |
| Type | Water Supply Reservoir/ Dam |
| Category | Utilities - Water |
| Builders | Public Works Department |
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The Chatswood Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2 are two old water storage tanks in Artarmon, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. They are located at 559 Pacific Highway. These reservoirs are very important because they are listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means they are protected because of their historical value.
The NSW Public Works Department designed and built these reservoirs. They are also known by their official numbers: WS024 and WS025. Today, Sydney Water owns and manages them. They were added to the heritage list on November 18, 1999.
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How Chatswood Reservoirs Helped Sydney
These reservoirs were built in 1888. They were a key part of Sydney's early water supply system. Before these reservoirs, getting water to areas like Chatswood and North Sydney was a challenge.
Water for these areas came from the Upper Nepean Scheme. This water traveled through large canals to a place called Pipehead. From Pipehead, powerful steam pumps at Ryde pushed the water up to the Chatswood Reservoirs.
Because the Chatswood Reservoirs were built high up (about 113 meters above sea level), they could send water to many suburbs using just gravity. This included Chatswood, North Sydney, Mosman, and parts of Ryde. Later, water could even flow to Manly from here.
In 1895, another pumping station was built next to the reservoirs. This station pumped water even higher. It sent water to large steel tanks in Wahroonga. This helped supply water to the higher parts of the North Shore. In 1972, a new, larger steel reservoir was built nearby to help store even more water.
What the Reservoirs Look Like
Chatswood Reservoir No. 1 (WS24) and Chatswood Reservoir No. 2 (WS25) look exactly alike. They are both large, round tanks made of riveted steel. This means the steel plates were joined together with many small metal fasteners called rivets.
They have a walkway on the roof that connects them. Each reservoir also has a concrete base, a special crane arm called a davit, and ladders for access. There are also special rooms for the water valves.
One interesting thing about them is the old ladder rungs on the side. They were cut off at the bottom, so you can't climb them anymore. The original water level gauge board is also gone.
On the site, there's also a small building called a meter house. There's also a newer, welded steel reservoir (WS239) from 1972. You can also see the old Chatswood Pumping Station, which is a two-story brick building from 1895. The area around the reservoirs has some nice trees, including palm trees, camphor laurels, and eucalypts.
Changes Over Time
To keep the water clean and safe, roofs were added to the reservoirs between the 1960s and 1970s. As mentioned, the ladder rungs on the side were cut off, and the depth gauge board was removed at some point.
Why They Are Heritage-Listed
The Chatswood Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2 are very important to New South Wales history. They were listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on November 18, 1999.
Here's why they are so special:
- They show us how water was supplied in the past.
These two reservoirs were built in 1888. They are a great example of how water systems were designed back then. They show the history of water supply in New South Wales.
- They are a great example of old engineering.
These riveted steel reservoirs are quite rare. They show a high level of technical skill for their time. They are considered one of the best and earliest examples of this type of reservoir in the Sydney area. Another similar example is the Hermitage Reservoirs.
- They are rare and unique.
Riveted steel reservoirs are not common in Sydney's water supply system. The Chatswood Reservoirs are one of the finest and oldest groups of this kind. This makes them a rare and important part of our cultural history.
