Paddington Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paddington Reservoir |
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Western Chamber, Paddington Reservoir Gardens, pictured in 2010
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | 255a Oxford Street, Paddington, New South Wales, Australia |
| Created | 2008 (as an urban park) |
| Operated by | City of Sydney |
| Open | 24 hours |
| Status | Open all year |
| Elevation | 65 metres (214 ft) AHD |
| Built | 1864 – March 1866 (as a water reservoir) |
| Built for | Metropolitan Board of Water and Sewerage, Sydney |
| Restored by | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer |
| Architect | Edward Bell |
| Official name: Paddington Reservoir; Walter Read Reserve; Paddington Reservoir Gardens (2009+); Reservoir Gardens | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 515 |
| Type | Water Supply Reservoir/Dam |
| Category | Utilities – Water |
The Paddington Reservoir is a special public park in Paddington, Sydney. It's located at 255a Oxford Street. This unique park was once a huge underground water reservoir. It was built between 1864 and 1866.
For many years, it supplied water to parts of Sydney. Later, it was used for storage and even as a car workshop. In 2006, work began to turn it into the beautiful sunken garden and park you see today. It's also known as Walter Read Reserve or Paddington Reservoir Gardens. The City of Sydney owns this historic site. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.
Contents
Discovering Paddington Reservoir's Past
How Paddington Grew
Paddington is a suburb in Sydney that got its name from a place in London. It started to grow when a road was built to Watsons Bay. At first, only a few workers lived here. But things changed in 1838 when a new military barracks, called Victoria Barracks, was built.
When soldiers and their families moved in, shops and builders followed. Between 1860 and 1890, about 3,800 houses were built. These houses, often called terraces, give Paddington its unique look today.
Today, Paddington is very popular. Its closeness to the city makes it a great place to live. The shopping area on Oxford Street has changed too. It now has many cafes and unique shops. The Paddington Markets, which started in the 1970s, bring many visitors. This has made Paddington a popular spot for tourists, like Bondi Beach and The Rocks.
The Reservoir's Journey: From Water to Park
Building a Water Supply
The idea for the Paddington Reservoir started in 1859. It was part of a bigger plan to get water from the Botany Swamps. Edward Bell designed the reservoir. It was finished by 1866.
This new reservoir helped bring water to higher parts of Sydney. Before this, people relied on wells and water carts. The reservoir was built in two main parts. The first part, the western chamber, was ready in 1866. The second part, the eastern chamber, was added in 1878. Each part was about 33 by 31 meters.
However, the reservoir wasn't very high up. This meant it could only supply water to the first floor of buildings. To help with water delivery, another pumping station was built in 1875. In 1899, the Paddington Reservoir was no longer needed. A bigger reservoir, the Centennial Park Reservoir, was built higher up.
New Uses for the Old Reservoir
After 1899, the reservoir was no longer used for water. From 1914, the Water Board used it for storage. Around 1920, it was emptied and became a workshop. This workshop was connected to a service station on Oxford Street.
In 1934, the reservoir was sold to the local council. The Water Board still used the eastern chamber for storage until the late 1950s. The western chamber became a commercial car garage. A ramp was built from Oxford Street to let cars drive inside.
The roof of the reservoir became a grassy public park in the 1930s. It was known as Reservoir Gardens. In 1953, it was named the Walter Read Reserve. This was in honor of Walter Farley Read, a local council member.
In 1990, part of the roof of the western chamber collapsed. This happened because the steel structure, added in 1926, had rusted. The collapse led to the closure of both the park on the roof and the service station below. For several years, the site was empty and unused.
Bringing the Reservoir Back to Life
In 2006, architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and JMD Design started a new project. They wanted to turn the old reservoir into an urban park. Instead of just covering it up, they decided to show off the old 19th-century structures. They wanted people to be able to walk through the dramatic old spaces.
They created a sunken garden and a pond in the western chamber. You can walk around it on concrete paths. The old brick arches were kept and highlighted. A "Victorian" tree-fern garden was planted, reminding people of the time when the reservoir was built. The eastern chamber was also fixed up. It now has new timber columns and a waterproof roof. This forms the base for the new park above.
In March 2009, the Paddington Reservoir Gardens officially reopened. It became a new public park for everyone to enjoy. The project won many awards for its design and how it reused the old building.
What the Paddington Reservoir Gardens Look Like
The Paddington Reservoir is a large, rectangular building. It's partly underground. It's made of brick and has timber columns inside. A grassy park sits on top of it. The columns supported cast iron beams, which held up the arched roof.
The reservoir has two main parts, or chambers. Each one is about 33.4 by 31.2 meters. A wall separates the two chambers. This allowed one chamber to be emptied while the other still held water.
Exploring the Gardens Today
In 2006, the architects and landscape designers started work on the old reservoir. It was in ruins back then. The goal was to save, restore, and reuse the space. The park reopened in 2008.
Today, it's a sunken garden with a park on the roof. It mixes the old brick, timber, and iron structures with new, modern parts. You can get to the sunken garden by stairs or an elevator. There's also a ramp to the rooftop park.
Current State of the Reservoir
The reservoir stopped being used for water in the late 1800s. After that, it was used for storage and as a car workshop. In 1990, part of the roof collapsed. This left the site unused for a while. Now, about half of the original roof structure has collapsed.
Changes Over Time
- Late 1800s: The reservoir stopped holding water and was used for storage.
- 1925: Some internal columns were removed to make space.
- Before 1990: It was used as a mechanical workshop and service station.
- 1990: Part of the roof collapsed, and the site became unused.
- 2009: After lots of work, it reopened as the Paddington Reservoir Gardens public park.
Why the Reservoir is Important
The Paddington Reservoir is very important to the history of New South Wales. It was a key part of Sydney's first water supply system. It also shows how buildings were made and how technology improved in the 1800s.
The grassy roof area is also a valuable public park. It's a green space in a busy city area. This makes it very important to the local community.
The reservoir worked quietly, supplying water to Paddington. It was a vital part of the area's growth. Even though it wasn't famous, it helped Paddington develop.
The reservoir roof has always been a popular place for locals. It was a welcome green space in a crowded suburb. People have used it for recreation for a long time.
Since the 1950s, there have been ideas to knock down the reservoir or use it for parking. But local groups have always fought to save it. Their efforts show how much the community cares about this place.
The Paddington Reservoir was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it's officially recognized as a special historical site.
A Look at History and Technology
The Paddington Reservoir is a great example of how things were built in the 1800s. It shows how water supply systems were designed back then. The two reservoirs in the Botany Swamps Scheme, Crown Street and Paddington, were designed by Edward Bell.
Creative Design and Engineering
The outside of the reservoir has features typical of the 1800s. The fence along Oxford Street was carefully designed. It had decorative columns and air vents. These vents were topped with spheres, adding to the design.
Inside, the vaulted ceilings and arched walls are amazing. The ironbark timber columns create a unique space. These interior spaces are rare examples of 19th-century public utility buildings. They show the beauty of early reservoir design.
Community Connection
The reservoir was essential for Paddington's growth. It also served as an important open space in a busy city area. The reservoir roof has been a well-loved park. It's highly valued by the people who live nearby.
Learning from the Past
The Paddington Reservoir can teach us a lot. It shows how technology improved over time. It also demonstrates the waterproofing methods used back then. The quality of the work shows the skills of builders in the area.
A Rare and Special Place
The Paddington Reservoir is part of Sydney's very first reservoir system. It's the only 19th-century reservoir that is no longer used for water but is open to the public. This makes it very rare.
It also shows an early, large-scale use of Portland cement. The roof provides a rare green space for the people of inner Paddington.
A Model of Its Kind
The reservoir represents the best water storage technology of the mid-1800s in Australia. The eastern chambers, in particular, show how advanced Australia's manufacturing was. Its continued use as a public park is a key part of the Paddington community's lifestyle.
Images for kids
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Western Chamber, Paddington Reservoir Gardens, pictured in 2010
