Mount Dorothy Reservoir facts for kids

The Mount Dorothy Reservoir is a special water storage tank located in Wentworthville, Australia. It was built between 1959 and 1961 by the Metropolitan Water Sewerage & Drainage Board. This reservoir is also known as WS 0073. It is owned by Sydney Water, which manages water services in Sydney. Because of its unique design and history, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

History of Mount Dorothy Reservoir

Why the Reservoir Was Built

The Mount Dorothy Reservoir was finished in 1961. It was built to help provide enough water for the growing number of people living in the western suburbs of Sydney. Areas like Wentworthville and Westmead needed more water as they grew.

New Building Technology

Mount Dorothy Reservoir (WS 73) is very special because of how it was built. It was one of the first reservoirs constructed by the Metropolitan Water Sewerage & Drainage Board using a method called prestressed concrete technology. This was a new and advanced way to build strong structures at the time. The reservoir's walls were also wrapped with strong steel wire. This wire helped make the walls even stronger against the pressure of the water inside.

Protecting Water Quality

Later, in the 1960s or 1970s, a roof was added to the reservoir. This was done to keep the water clean and safe for everyone to drink.

What Mount Dorothy Reservoir Looks Like

Reservoir Design and Size

Mount Dorothy Reservoir is shaped like a large cylinder. It is made from prestressed concrete panels that were put together and then wrapped with strong steel wire. This design makes it very sturdy.

The reservoir is about 39 meters wide and 7.5 meters deep. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 9.3 million liters! It is built similarly to another reservoir called Cecil Park Reservoir (WS 165).

Key Features

The reservoir has several standard parts. These include a concrete area around its base called an apron. There's also a davit (a small crane), a special marker for surveying, an access ladder, handrails, and special rooms for the valves that control water flowing in and out. The reservoir is still in very good condition today.

Why Mount Dorothy Reservoir is Heritage Listed

Unique Construction Method

Mount Dorothy Reservoir is considered important because it's an unusual type of reservoir. It was one of the first of its kind built in the area served by the Water Board to use prestressed concrete. This method involved using special concrete blocks for the walls and then wrapping them with steel wire. This wire helped the reservoir handle the pressure of the water inside. While this technology is now common in building, it's not often used for reservoirs.

Historical Importance

The reservoir was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999 for several reasons:

• It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales: This reservoir was the first in the Water Board's area to be built using prestressed concrete. It was also built to meet the growing need for water in Sydney's western suburbs in the early 1960s.
• It is important to the community: The reservoir has provided drinking water to people in the western suburbs for many years. Because of this, it is likely valued by the local community.
• It is rare or uncommon: This reservoir is one of only two of its kind built using this specific method in the Water Board's service area.