Petersham Reservoir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Petersham Service Reservoir
Petersham Reservoir in 2006. The original, heritage-listed structure is located within the covered mound; the more recent elevated structure is not heritage-listed.
Location	New Canterbury Road, Petersham, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Architect	NSW Public Works Dept.
Owner	Sydney Water
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Petersham Service Reservoir & Site; Petersham Reservoir WS089
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	18 November 1999
Reference no.	1331
Type	Water Supply Reservoir/ Dam
Category	Utilities - Water
Builders	NSW Public Works Dept.
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The Petersham Reservoir is an important water storage building in Petersham, Sydney, Australia. It was designed and built by the New South Wales Public Works Department. This special site is also known as Petersham Service Reservoir or WS089. It is owned by Sydney Water. The reservoir was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on November 18, 1999. This means it is protected because of its historical and engineering importance.

History of Petersham Reservoir

• The Petersham Reservoir (the covered part) started working in 1888.
• It was one of the first new reservoirs built after the big Upper Nepean Scheme was finished in 1888.
• At first, it supplied water to western Sydney and the Illawarra suburbs.
• Later, as more water storage was built, it supplied only the lower areas nearby.
• In 1888, a single main pipe, called No. 1 Main, brought water from Potts Hill.
• This pipe delivered water to Petersham Reservoir and then continued to Crown Street Reservoir.
• Between 1935 and 1936, the southern water supply system needed big changes.
• These changes were made to use water from a new Pressure Tunnel, which included a connection to Petersham Reservoir.

How the Reservoir Changed Over Time

• In 1965, the City Tunnel started supplying water to the Petersham Reservoir (elevated part).
• The elevated part of the Petersham Reservoir was built in 1965.
• It was built right into the roof of the older, covered reservoir below.
• This new part helped supply water to the higher areas of the Inner West.
• Today, the original Petersham Reservoir (the covered part) is empty.

What Petersham Reservoir Looks Like

• The Petersham Reservoir (covered) is a hidden reservoir.
• It has earth and grass placed over its roof, making it look like a grassy mound.
• The mound around it is rectangular, but the reservoir inside is round.
• Part of it is dug into the ground, and part is raised up by an embankment.
• The reservoir is built with a brick floor, brick walls, and brick columns.
• It also has strong cast iron beams.
• The roof has three curved concrete arches, like a tunnel.
• This special roof design is only found here and at Waverley Reservoir No. 1 (Covered).
• However, the middle arch of Petersham's roof was removed when the elevated reservoir was built in 1965.
• You can now get inside the covered reservoir through the tower of the elevated reservoir.

Features Around the Reservoir

• The whole site is surrounded by a colorful brick wall.
• The main entrance is on Canterbury Road.
• Two rectangular brick buildings, called valve houses, stand on either side of the entrance.
• These valve houses still have their original valve control equipment inside.
• The reservoir also has cast iron caps on its roof for ventilation.
• Plants like oleander grow around the site.
• The reservoir can hold about 9.1 million liters of water.
• Its full water level is 51 meters high.
• There is also an old Water Service Operator Office on Canterbury Road.
• It's a brick building with a tiled roof, built in a style called Federation.
• The protected area includes the covered reservoir, the brick wall, the old office, the valve houses, and the gates.
• The building of the elevated reservoir in 1965 changed the middle part of the original roof.

Why Petersham Reservoir is Heritage-Listed

• The Petersham Reservoir (Covered) shows how skilled engineers were in the late 1800s.
• It is part of a small group of old covered reservoirs in Sydney.
• These reservoirs show how building technology changed over time.
• Petersham Reservoir (Covered) was the first reservoir to start working after the Upper Nepean Scheme was completed in 1888.
• The valve houses still have their original equipment, which is very rare in the Sydney Water system.
• Petersham Service Reservoir was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on November 18, 1999.
• It met several important requirements to be listed.

Historical Importance

• This place is important because it shows the history of New South Wales.
• Petersham Reservoir (Covered) was the first reservoir to be used after the Upper Nepean Scheme was finished in 1888.

Design and Technical Achievements

• The reservoir also shows great design and technical skill.
• Its colorful brick walls and the way the valve houses are placed show excellent design.
• This design helps the reservoir fit in well with the surrounding streets.

Learning from the Reservoir

• This place can help us learn more about the history of New South Wales.
• The reservoir shows the many different building methods and high level of skill used to build covered reservoirs.
• All covered reservoirs in the Sydney Water system are very important.
• This is because each one has different building technology, design, and details.
• They all help us understand how covered reservoirs developed in New South Wales.

Rare Features of the Reservoir

• The Petersham Reservoir has rare or uncommon features.
• It is one of a small group of large covered reservoirs made of brick or concrete.
• Each of these reservoirs is unique in its construction, design, and details.
• It was also the first reservoir to be used after the Upper Nepean Scheme was completed in 1888.