Merredin Railway Water Tank

Author

Shire of Merredin

Place Number

03641

Location

Great Eastern Hwy Merredin

Location Details

On south side of railway line, near Allenby Street REGISTERED AS PART OF 1577

Other Name(s)

Water Tower

Local Government

Merredin

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1893

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Statewide Lge Timber Str Survey Completed 11 Dec 1998
Municipal Inventory Adopted 16 Apr 1999 Category 2

Statement of Significance

Although the same design of water tank is found elsewhere in the state e.g. at Mullewa, the tower is a significant engineering structure of historical and architectural importance, of value for tourism.

Physical Description

The 50' high tower is located on railway land, immediately adjacent and readily accessible from, Great Eastern Highway. It is the tallest structure in the town and readily seen from a distance.

History

Mounted on an up-right at the base of the tower is a Bicentenial Plaque with the following inscription: "Merredin Peak Heritage Trail/The Water Tower. When the eastern railway reached Merredin in 1893 this tower was built to"provide water for the steam engines then in use. Water was pumped from the dam at Merredin Peak into the square tank, which has a capacity of 40,000 gallons. On the tank's side can be seen advertisements for Kalgoorlie Bitter and Oatmeal Stout, produced in the Merredin Brewery in 1928." Because of purity of the water from the rock catchment, the water tower continued to be used long after supply of water to the town from the Goldfields Pipeline, until steam trains were withdrawn from service in the mid 1960s.

Integrity/Authenticity

The water tower is as constructed, complete with advertisements, and has a very high integrity.

Condition

Fair but deteriorating

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
"Merredin Peak Heritage Trail" WA Heritage Committee 1988
"The Old Station Museum" booklet Merredin Museum & Historical society Undated
"Merredin Tourist" brochure 1979
Merredin Tourist Information Centre (Inc.)

Place Type

Historic site

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use Transport\Communications Rail: Water Tower
Original Use Transport\Communications Rail: Water Tower

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Other TIMBER Log
Other METAL Steel

Historic Themes

General Specific
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS Rail & light rail transport

Creation Date

05 Jul 1995

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.