Railway Dam, Merredin

Statement of Significance

In a feat of engineering that was bold, imaginative and efficient, Merredin Peak was surrounded by a rock wall arid network of channels to direct run-off from the rock into Railway Dam. It was one of the first rock catchment dams in the state and at the time of its construction was an engineering show-piece, being modelled in clay and exhibited in the museum.
Originally built in 1893 by J. McDowell, a railway contractor, it was enlarged in the 1930s and presently has a capacity of around 30 million litres.
Even after Merredin was connected to water from the Goldfields Pipeline, the Railway Dam continued to be used to supply water for steam engines, until the 1960s, because of its purity.
The children of Merredin used to swim in the dam before the Town's Olympic Pool, the second in Western Australia, was opened in 1955.
The channel connecting the dam with Merredin Peak is some 100 metres along and is made from rock taken from the Peak itself. Walking along the channel you can see variations in colour and texture where the rock was taken from different parts of the Peak and holes drilled in the rock during the process of removing it in blocks.
A sluice gate at the entrance of, the channel was used to control the flow of water into the dam in conjunction with a second gate to the left of the channel along the rock wall. This ensured that the town would not be flooded in the event of exceptional rainfall.
The rock wall feeds run-off water into the channel and dam. The enterprising use of indigenous material in the wall's construction has been described as one of the best examples of this kind ever built. 45,000 cubic metres of run-off is channelled into Railway Dam annually and is now used to water the parks and gardens of Merredin.
The rock used to build the dam, wall and channels was taken from a number of sites on the Peak. Wooden pegs were driven into the rock and moistened with water, and as they expanded the rock was fractured.
One such quarry site is near the southern end of the Peak and has been included in a heritage trail. North of this quarry is the foundation of the reservoir which supplied water to the war time hospital complex. Still visible are remnants of the pipe which carried water from the reservoir to the base.

Physical Description

Situated on the north-eastern edge of the townsite is Merredin Peak, a granite outcrop. A retaining wall and water channels have been constructed to direct run-off water into a holding dam situated on the south-west corner, referred to as Railway Dam because its purpose was to supply railway engines with water.
A wall on the northern side of the Peak bears the initials of a railway contractor "W.H.S. AD 1896". Stone to construct the walls was taken from various quarries on the Peak.
The dam holds about 30 million litres and is still used to irrigate sporting facilities in the town and supply the "waterfall".

History

Themes: Population Settlement and Mobility - Water Source
Transport and Communications - Rail

Integrity/Authenticity

The original fabric is in place providing a very high integrity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

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.