Public Works Department (Western Australia) facts for kids

The Public Works Department (PWD) was a special government group in Western Australia. Its main job was to build and look after important public things. These included dams, water supplies, schools, hospitals, harbours, and other public buildings. The PWD doesn't exist anymore. Its jobs were given to other government departments and companies starting in 1985.

Building Western Australia's Future

The Public Works Department (PWD) played a huge role in making Western Australia what it is today. It helped change the state from a small settlement into a busy and successful place. Because Western Australia was so far away from other places, the PWD's ability to design and build things on its own was very important.

Before the PWD

Building important structures in the early Swan River Colony was first managed by Henry Willey Reveley. He was an English civil engineer who arrived in 1829. Reveley built structures like the Round House in Fremantle and the Old Perth Courthouse in Perth. He used workers who were convicts, soldiers, or hired for specific jobs. He also helped build roads, bridges, jetties, and tunnels.

After Reveley left in 1839, Henry Trigg took over as the Superintendent of Public Works. He worked on jetties, The Perth Causeway, and the settlement on Rottnest Island.

James Austin became Superintendent in 1851. Then, in 1853, Richard Roach Jewell took over. He was called the Clerk of Works for the Colonial Works Office. By 1880, the department was known as the Works and Railways Department.

In 1885, John Arthur Wright became the Director of Public Works and Engineer in Chief. Later, in 1891, C. Y. O'Connor arrived in Perth to become the Engineer in Chief.

The PWD Begins

The first head of the PWD, Charles Yelverton O'Connor

The Public Works Department officially started on January 1, 1901. C. Y. O'Connor was the first Engineer in Chief. The PWD took over from the earlier Department of Works & Buildings.

Important Leaders

Many skilled people led the PWD over the years. They helped guide the department's big projects.

Engineers in Chief:

• C. Y. O'Connor (1901–1902)
• C.S.R. Palmer (1902–1904)
• James Thompson (1904–1925)

Director of Public Works:

• Sir Russell Dumas (1941–1951)

Principal Architects: These leaders were in charge of designing many of the state's important buildings.

• John Harry Grainger (1897–1905)
• Hillson Beasley (1905–1917)
• William Burden Hardwick (1917–1927)
• Albert Ernest (Paddy) Clare (1930–1960)
• Stanley Cann (1968–1980)

For more details, you can look up Western Australia Government Architect.

PWD Buildings

For a long time, the PWD had its offices near The Barracks Arch in Perth. In 1966, the PWD moved into a new building called Dumas House in West Perth.

The PWD also had workshops where they fixed machines and electrical equipment. These were in East Perth and Welshpool. Many country towns also had smaller offices and depots for local staff.

The End of an Era

The Public Works Department changed its name and became the Building Management Authority on January 1, 1985. This marked the end of the PWD as a separate department.

What the PWD Did

The PWD had many different jobs. It was responsible for building and maintaining a wide range of public services across Western Australia.

Agriculture

The PWD took over building the famous rabbit-proof fence in 1904. This fence was built to stop rabbits from spreading across the state. The PWD had to fix parts of the fence that weren't built well before continuing the work.

The PWD also provided mechanical and electrical services for many farms and agricultural research stations. They built and looked after irrigation systems, like the Camballin Irrigation Scheme, which helped grow crops like rice.

Today, these jobs are handled by groups like the Agriculture Protection Board and the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Energy

The PWD started giving out electrical licenses in 1925. This meant they were in charge of making sure electrical work was done safely.

Now, other organizations like Western Power and EnergySafety (part of the Department of Commerce) manage these tasks.

Harbours and Rivers

A trig point of the department at Sandy Cape, north of Jurien Bay

The PWD built the important Fremantle Harbour and many smaller jetties and wharves in regional areas. They also ran these facilities. The department surveyed rivers and coastal areas to help with shipping and development.

During the Great Depression (a time of economic hardship), the PWD took on projects to help people find work. For example, they diverted the Harvey River between 1931 and 1934, which employed over 2500 men.

Today, groups like the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the Swan River Trust handle these responsibilities.

Mechanical and Electrical Services

The PWD built electrical switchboards for buildings all over the state. You can still see some of these old PWD switchboards at ports and water facilities. They were usually built in the Jewell Street workshops. The PWD was also the start of the State Engineering Works.

Public Buildings

The PWD was in charge of building many government buildings. This included police stations, schools, hospitals, lighthouses, courthouses, and prisons. They also designed and maintained these buildings.

Some famous buildings they worked on include:

• The Perth GPO
• Government House
• Perth Technical College
• Sunset Hospital

After the PWD was disbanded, these roles were taken over by groups like the Building Management Authority and later the Department of Finance.

Railways

The PWD built and maintained smaller railways that served regional areas, often connecting to wharves. They also built railways for specific projects, like the one for building Mundaring Weir, which was removed once the project was finished. The PWD also constructed many major railways across the state.

Before the PWD, railways were managed by the Department of Works and Railways. Now, the Public Transport Authority handles these roles.

Roads

The PWD was responsible for building roads and bridges throughout Western Australia. This important job was later given to the Main Roads Department, which continues this work today.

Vehicles and Equipment

The PWD had its own mechanics and workshops to maintain vehicles and heavy equipment. This included cars for visiting government officers and machinery like graders and rollers used for construction.

Water and Sewerage

The PWD was responsible for water supplies, drainage, irrigation, sewerage, and managing water resources for many years. They took over this role in 1912.

The PWD built many dams, reservoirs, and water systems across Western Australia. Later, water and sewerage services were split. The Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Board took care of the Perth area, while the PWD continued to service country areas until it closed.

Today, the Water Corporation and the Department of Water manage these vital services.