Newcastle Reservoirs facts for kids

The Newcastle Reservoirs are old water storage tanks in The Hill, Newcastle, Australia. They are no longer used for water storage but are now open for public tours.

These reservoirs were designed by Cecil West Darley and the NSW Public Works Department. They were built between 1880 and 1918. The site is also known by other names like Brown Street Reservoirs. Today, the Hunter Water Corporation owns the property. The reservoirs were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2018 because of their historical importance.

A Brief History of Newcastle's Water Supply

How People Got Water in the Past

The area now called Newcastle was originally the land of the Awabakal people. They had plenty of fresh water from natural waterholes and creeks.

When Europeans settled in Newcastle, they first used spring water. Later, people dug wells. However, these wells often got dirty from household waste. Some homes had tanks to collect rainwater from roofs, but these could also get contaminated. People were advised to filter their water through sand and charcoal to make it cleaner.

Dirty water caused many illnesses like diarrhoea, typhoid, and cholera, especially among babies. The lack of clean, piped water also made the air dusty and some thought it led to more alcohol use.

Planning a New Water System

In 1866, Newcastle started a committee to find a better water source. In 1875, engineer Francis Bell suggested ideas, but no one agreed. George Alfred Lloyd, a local politician, pushed for a larger water supply system from the Hunter River. This system would serve Newcastle and nearby towns.

In 1876, the NSW Government hired William Clark, a famous engineer from England. Clark designed water and drainage systems for many cities around the world. He spent two years in NSW, advising on water plans for Sydney and other towns like Newcastle.

Building the First Reservoir

In 1877, Clark suggested using the Hunter River at Bolwarra as the main water source. He thought the water could be cleaned using sand and gravel filters. Water would be pumped from Walka to a large lagoon, then filtered through a series of tanks. After cleaning, it would be pumped to a reservoir at Buttai Hill. From Buttai, water would flow through pipes to a main reservoir in Newcastle.

The Newcastle Reservoir (No. 1) and the Buttai Reservoir ended up looking different from Clark's original plans. Clark had passed away, and his original drawings were lost in a fire. Engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) redesigned them. They found that the rock at the chosen sites was not suitable. So, the reservoirs were built with strong masonry and arched roofs, making them more complex and costly.

These new designs used Clark's clever invention: the "tied brick arch." This method used iron rods to strengthen the brick arches, making the roofs very stable and resistant to ground movement.

Cecil West Darley, an engineer for the PWD, designed the Newcastle and Buttai reservoirs. He had a lot of experience with water systems. Thomas Bourke built the Newcastle Reservoir, overseen by Darley and later by Robert Hickson.

By 1885, most of the Walka water scheme was ready. On the last day of 1885, the first water finally flowed into the Newcastle Reservoir. This was a huge moment for the city, bringing much-needed clean water and improving public health.

The Walka scheme, finished in 1886, was special. It was the first in Australia to filter water at its source and use fully enclosed pipes and storage. This meant the water stayed clean from the river to people's homes.

Managing the Water Supply

Because managing the Walka scheme was complicated, the government created the Hunter District Water Supply and Sewerage Board in 1892. This board took over running the water system. Its motto, "Pro salute civium," means "For the Public Health." This board later became the Hunter Water Corporation.

The Walka water was clean but "hard" due to minerals. This made it less ideal for washing. As Newcastle grew, the demand for water increased a lot. Around 1913, an electric pump was added to move water from Reservoir No. 1 to other areas.

The Second Reservoir and Modern Changes

The growing demand, especially from new industries like the BHP Iron and Steel Works, put a lot of strain on the Walka system. To meet future needs, the Board decided to build a dam on the Chichester River. This also meant building another reservoir in Newcastle.

Work on Newcastle Reservoir No. 2 began in May 1917, right next to Reservoir No. 1. This new reservoir was built using reinforced concrete, a newer building material in Australia at the time. The Public Works Department designed it with the help of the State Monier Pipe and Reinforced Concrete Works. Gerald Haskins, an assistant engineer, supervised its construction.

Reservoir No. 2 was one of the first in NSW to be built in a square shape, which was good for urban areas. Building with concrete was still new and sometimes risky. For example, other concrete reservoir roofs had collapsed in the past.

Concrete for Reservoir No. 2 was mixed nearby. The construction was finished by June 1918, even before the Chichester Dam was completed in 1926. A brass plaque on the wall marks its completion. The reservoir has a turf-covered roof, which helps keep the water clean and controls temperature changes.

After 1924, the Walka Water Works became a backup system. An alarm bell was installed in Reservoir No. 2 to tell the caretaker when it was empty. In 1945, the Walka Water Works closed, ending its connection to Newcastle's main water supply.

In the 1980s, water usage decreased. Also, the roof of another reservoir (The Obelisk) collapsed after an explosion caused by gas and children's firecrackers. Because of these events, Reservoir No. 1 was taken out of use around 1985.

Today, the roof of Reservoir No. 2 is sometimes used by the nearby Newcastle East Public School as extra playground space. Since 2014, Hunter Water has offered regular tours of the reservoirs, which are very popular.

What the Reservoirs Look Like

The Newcastle Reservoirs site has two large water tanks located high up, overlooking the city. They were once the main water storage for inner Newcastle.

Newcastle No. 1 Reservoir

This reservoir was finished in 1882 but stopped being used around 1985. It's square-shaped and has earthen banks on three sides. These banks are held up by brick walls with stone corners. The roof is covered with grass and made of barrel-shaped brick arches. These arches are supported by hollow cast iron beams and brick columns.

Inside, the reservoir is lined with a special cement to keep water from leaking. The front of the reservoir, facing Brown Street, has a fancy iron gate with flower designs. This gate leads to stone steps and a brick and stone valve house with a classic Greek-style entrance. Next to it is a smaller valve house from around 1913, made of colourful bricks.

Newcastle No. 2 Reservoir

Just north of Reservoir No. 1 is the larger Newcastle Reservoir No. 2, completed in 1918 and still in use. Its walls are made of reinforced concrete. The outside is covered by a brick wall with decorative details. A bronze plaque on the wall marks its completion. The roof is also covered with grass and supported by concrete columns. The building for its valves has a tiled roof and decorative details.

Current Condition

As of 2017, both reservoirs are in good condition.

• Newcastle Reservoir No. 1: The main structure is sound, though some cracks are visible in the retaining wall. The entry area has some wear, and a vent has been replaced. The valve house has been repaired and is in good shape.
• Newcastle Reservoir No. 2: This reservoir is also in good condition. There are minor cracks in the outer brick wall and some areas need re-pointing (fixing mortar between bricks). Some concrete parts show signs of corrosion. The valve house is in good external condition, with minor graffiti damage in the past. The roof and paintwork are generally good.

Both reservoirs are considered very valuable historical sites.

Changes Over Time

• 1880: Construction began on Newcastle Reservoir No. 1.
• December 1885: Newcastle Reservoir No. 1 was completed.
• Around 1913: The original valve house on the roof was replaced by a new one at ground level.
• May 1917: Construction began on Newcastle Reservoir No. 2.
• 1918: Newcastle Reservoir No. 2 was completed.
• Around 1925: An alarm bell was added to Reservoir No. 2 to alert the caretaker when it was full or empty.
• Around 1929: The Tyrrell Street Pumping Station was built to better control water flow to Reservoir No. 2.
• Mid-1980s: Newcastle Reservoir No. 1 was taken out of use.
• Late 1980s: Steel steps and safety chains were added to the roof of Reservoir No. 2 for easier access.
• 2014: New steps, lighting, and projection equipment were installed to allow public tours of Reservoir No. 1.
• 2018: The access steps to Reservoir No. 2 were improved, and the safety chain was replaced with a steel fence. This allowed the nearby Newcastle East Public School to use the grassed roof as a playground.

Why These Reservoirs Are Important

The Newcastle Reservoirs are very important to the history of New South Wales. They show how water supply changed from small, local sources to large, clean, and reliable systems.

Historical Significance

The site is important because it includes two reservoirs from the first two major water supply systems for the Hunter region: the Walka scheme and the Chichester scheme. The Walka scheme was groundbreaking because it was the first in Australia to filter water at its source and keep it completely enclosed during distribution and storage. This led to the creation of the Hunter District Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which was very important for the development of NSW.

Important People

Many important engineers were involved with these reservoirs:

• William Clark: A world-famous engineer who designed the initial ideas for the Walka scheme and chose the reservoir's location. He also invented the "tied brick arch" system used in Reservoir No. 1.
• Edward Orpen Moriarty: As Chief Engineer, he oversaw the building of the Walka scheme.
• Cecil West Darley: He designed Reservoir No. 1 and supervised its early construction.
• Robert Rowan Purdon Hickson: He took over supervising the construction of Reservoir No. 1 after Darley.
• James Stuart Rodgers: His company made the iron parts for the tied arches in Reservoir No. 1.
• Gerald Haskins: He supervised the building of Reservoir No. 2.

Design and Technology

Newcastle Reservoir No. 1 shows how important good design was for water infrastructure in the 1800s. It's one of only two reservoirs in NSW known to use William Clark's special tied brick arches. This design was influenced by engineering practices from the UK and British India. It was a world-leading example of how to protect water from contamination.

Reservoir No. 2 is important because it was an early example of using reinforced concrete in a water reservoir in an urban area in NSW. Its design had to fit in with the surrounding streets. It shows how new building methods were introduced into the urban environment.

Both reservoirs are important because their original structures are still mostly intact. They are also valued by the people who worked for the Hunter District Water Board and its later companies.

Research Potential

Newcastle No. 1 Reservoir can help us learn more about how water filtration systems developed. It also shows how engineering ideas from other parts of the world, like British India, influenced projects in NSW. It's a great example of how thorough planning led to safe water supplies in the 1800s.

Newcastle No. 2 Reservoir can show us how older water systems were connected with newer ones that used new technologies like concrete dams and reservoirs. It also demonstrates how modern design was used when bringing reinforced concrete into city environments.

Rarity

Newcastle No. 1 Reservoir is rare because it's one of only two reservoirs in NSW that use William Clark's unique tied brick arches.

Example of Its Kind

Newcastle No. 1 Reservoir is an excellent example of an 1880s water reservoir. Its use of Clark's tied brick arches makes it a special and unique example among similar reservoirs in NSW.