Bunbury Water Board Water Reservoir - site

Statement of Significance

DEMOLISHED
The Bunbury Water Board Reservoir was an essential public utility that provided water storage for the town. The reservoir was fed from a bore/pumping station at the base of Boulter's Heights, from where residents could connect to mains water.

Physical Description

DEMOLISHED.

History

The Bunbury Town Water Board was established in 1906 to develop a permanent fresh water supply for the town. With the help of a government loan, two iron tanks with a combined capacity of 70,000 gallons were built on a lofty sandhill immediately behind the town (Boulter’s Heights). The water was connected via pumps to wells at the foot of the sandhills and to mains running under Victoria and Prinsep streets. Contractor Buswell was engaged to carry out the work. This was the public fresh water supply until the early 1920s.

Prior to this, Beigel’s Brewery had sunk a 35 metre bore through basalt yielding potable water. Other bores were sunk in the later 1890s, some marked by windmills. A council well, pump and some water mains had also been installed and Thomas Stokes, owner of a private bore at his Aerated Water Factory in Wellington Street, had offered to sell water to the Council at 1 shilling per 1,000 gallons.

In 1920/21, tenders were called to replace the original iron tanks with a 50,000 gallon concrete tank to cope with the increase in population. This greatly enlarged plant opened in 1924.

During World War II, the installation was important enough to warrant regular VDC Home Defence patrols.

At some stage, Kalgoorlie miners dug a new shaft in Witenoom Street when went through 25 metres of basalt. It was still operational until 1991. In 1961, the old Town Well supply was abandoned

From 1966, equipment was installed to filter the water making it safer to drink. The concrete tank was demolished in 1991.

The Bunbury Water Board was restructured in 1996/97 to become AQWEST. It remains one of two independent water authorities in Western Australia.

Integrity/Authenticity

DEMOLISHED.

Condition

No visible remains.

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.