Sewage Pumping Station 27 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sewage Pumping Station 27 |
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Sewage Pumping Station 27, Callan Park, Rozelle, New South Wales
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| Location | Callan Park, Rozelle, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Architect | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
| Owner | Sydney Water |
| Official name: Sewage Pumping Station 27; SPS 27 | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 18 November 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1341 |
| Type | Sewage Pump House/Pumping Station |
| Category | Utilities - Sewerage |
| Builders | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
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Sewage Pumping Station 27 (also known as SPS 27) is a special historic building in Callan Park, Rozelle, Sydney, Australia. It used to be a sewage pumping station. This building helped keep Sydney Harbour clean by moving wastewater away from homes. It is now recognized as an important heritage site in New South Wales. The building is owned by Sydney Water.
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Why Pumping Stations Were Needed
Back in 1873, Sydney Harbour was getting very dirty. This was because sewage from the city was flowing directly into the water. This pollution caused serious health problems, like outbreaks of typhoid fever.
To fix this, the government created a health board in 1875. They needed a better way to get rid of the city's growing wastewater.
Solving the Problem
The solution was to build a large system to carry sewage far away. This led to the creation of the Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer (BOOS) in 1889. This huge pipe carried sewage out to the ocean.
However, some low-lying areas around the harbour were too low for gravity to move the sewage. So, special pumping stations were built. These stations would pump the sewage uphill so it could join the main sewer lines.
By the late 1950s, more than 115 of these pumping stations were working. Many of the original buildings from the early 1900s are still standing today.
Building SPS 27
Sewage Pumping Station 27 was built between 1911 and 1912. It was designed by the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage. This station helped move sewage from the Rozelle area.
The station worked for many years. However, in the early 1990s, it was found to be old and in poor condition. It was decided that the building had reached the end of its useful life.
SPS 27 was officially stopped from working in 1997. A new, modern pumping station was built nearby to take its place. In 2014, some work was done to fix up the old building. This was to help preserve its historical value.
What SPS 27 Looks Like
SPS 27 is a single-story building. It has a strong concrete base and walls made of sandstone. The building's style is called Federation Romanesque. It was designed to match other buildings in the nearby Callan Park Hospital complex.
The roof is made of Corrugated galvanised iron and slopes downwards. There are timber vents to help air move through the building. The walls are made of rough-cut sandstone blocks. The windows are made of wood and have many small glass panes.
Above the main entrance, you can see a stone panel. It has the letters "MBWS & DB 1911" carved into it. This stands for the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Drainage Board, and the year it was built.
Inside, you can see the wooden beams that support the roof. The walls are painted sandstone. The area around the station is covered in concrete. The building looks out over Iron Cove.
While much of the building is still original, some parts have been changed over time. For example, the original slate roof was replaced with a new metal roof. The building also needed some repairs due to a lack of maintenance.
Why SPS 27 is Important
SPS 27 is important for both its history and its look. Its main job was to serve the Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer (BOOS). The BOOS system was a huge step in stopping raw sewage from polluting Sydney Harbour.
This pumping station is also special because it uses local sandstone. It's a rare example of an industrial building designed by the Water Board using this material. Its design helped it fit in with the other buildings at Callan Park.
The old machinery inside the building also has historical value. It can teach us about how industrial technology worked in the past. The station is located in a beautiful spot overlooking Iron Cove. This adds to its visual appeal and makes it a notable part of the landscape.
Sewage Pumping Station 27 was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.
