Drummoyne Reservoir is a heritage listed elevated steel water supply service water tower, constructed between 1910-1913 as part of the water supply system for Sydney. The tower acted as a storage and balance reservoir for the suburb of Drummoyne and was disconnected from the system in 1994.
Location
editThe Drummoyne Reservoir and tower (WS0038), also identified as RS8,[1] was built at 88 Rawson Avenue Drummoyne. The reservoir is located at latitude 33 51 27 S longitude 151 09 05 E.[1] and was one of two reservoirs built in Sydney with an attached tower and was the only reservoir to feature a tower or campanile as a deliberate ornament which provides access to the top walk-way.[2]
It is now the only reservoir with its tower surviving. The combined tower and reservoir is a local landmark. The provision of the tower is associated with Sir Thomas Henley, a prominent local identity and politician who was also a member of the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage in Sydney and who had been instrumental in the provision of these reservoirs.[1]
Architecture and construction
edit
The Drummoyne Reservoir is a Federation Free Classical style structure[1], one of the four elevated service reservoirs built in New South Wales between 1910 and 1914. The reservoir was designed by J.G.S. Purvis, a design engineer employed by the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage.[1] The substructure was built by Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage and the tank was fabricated by Poole & Steele Ltd from 1910-1913[1]. The reservoir is a large circular steel tank with riveted steel wall mounted upon a circular concrete slab which is supported above the ground on an inner grid of steel columns and girders and an outer ring of arched concrete columns.[1] The tank is 80 feet (24.6 m) in diameter and 40 feet (12.3 m) in height.[1] The reservoir was designed to hold a million gallons of water.[3]
The Drummoyne Reservoir (WS0038) is one of a group of elevated steel water supply service reservoirs built between 1910 and 1915 as part of the Sydney metropolitan water supply system. It served as a storage and balance reservoir for Drummoyne from 1913 to 1965. [4] The construction of Drummoyne (R38), along with Penshurst No.2, Bellevue Hill and Ashfield No.2 between 1910-1914, marked a new phase in the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage’s reservoir development, with the composite use of reinforced concrete and mild steel setting these reservoirs apart from their predecessors.[5]
The 1913 Handbook of the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage gives the following description: "Drummoyne Elevated Tank T.W.L.: 168.00ft; capacity: 1,000,000 gallons; depth of water: 32ft. This is an open elevated steel tank, 80ft, diameter, erected on concrete arches and steel stanchions and girders, with a reinforced concrete floor, situated in Rawson Avenue, Drummoyne. It is filled with gravitation water from Potts Hill, and acts as a storage and balance reservoir for Drummoyne. A square tower or campanile has been attached to the front of this tank for ornamental purposes, and is utilised as a stairway to top of tank".[5] The reservoir is associated with Sir Thomas Henley KBE, MP (1860-1935) who was an alderman for Drummoyne from 1898 to 1934 and mayor four times.
In the early 1960s the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage instituted a policy of roofing all of its 160 existing reservoirs. Drummoyne Reservoir was roofed in 1975 and safety railing added to the catwalk.[1] The reservoir was formally disconnected from the system in 1994.[4]
Heritage listing
editDrummoyne Reservoir was decommissioned in 1965[1] and is the only reservoir with a surviving tower in New South Wales. [6]
The reservoir and tower have been heritage listed:
- New South Wales State agency heritage register (2000)
- National Trust of Australia register (2000)
- City of Canada Bay Heritage Schedule
In 2018 Sydney Water sold the land surrounding the reservoir and tower.[7] Community action sought to prevent the sale and seeking to fund restoration with a petition, organised by City of Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas, collecting more than 1500 signatures.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sydney Water. "Heritage detail Drummoyne Reservoir (WS0038)". Sydney Water Corporation. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "DRUMMOYNE RESERVOIR, NEAR SYDNEY". Construction And Real Estate Journal. Vol. XLX, , no. 1571. New South Wales, Australia. 11 May 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 25 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ "DRUMMOYNE'S NEW RESERVOIR". Evening News. No. 13, 336. New South Wales, Australia. 8 March 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 25 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Drummoyne Reservoir - Lucas Stapleton Johnson Heritage Architects". Lucas Stapleton Johnson Heritage Architects. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ a b NSW Environment & Heritage. "Drummoyne Reservoir". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Cheung, Alison (17 May 2018). "Sydney Water to sell heritage-listed Drummoyne Reservoir from under council's nose". Commercial Real Estate News. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ a b Cheung, Alison (30 August 2018). "Sydney Water offloads old Drummoyne Reservoir for $3.75 million to mystery buyer". Commercial Property & Real Estate News. Retrieved 7 January 2019.