Looking for the final section of the Water Race Pipe Track.
Today’s mission was essentially a historical reconnaissance. The objective was to locate the likely route of the Pipe Track associated with the old Water Race. Most pipelines have accompanying tracks or service roads that allow both construction and ongoing maintenance. While I have walked much of this track before, there remains a gap in my understanding of its exact route between the Earth Bridge and Coleman’s Tunnel.
It is already understood that the water race passes beneath the Earth Bridge, but its precise depth at that point is still uncertain.
We know that the original pipe track is lower down the hillside than the Maintenance Road (O-K Pipe Track). Walking toward Coleman’s Tunnel, the track rounds a spur that leads toward the Earth Bridge. At this point there is a mysterious trench in the hillside, and I suspect this trench may in fact be part of the old pipe track. The alignment is suggestive, because following the Pipe Track around the spur leads directly to this trench.
From there, the route appears to continue beneath the Earth Bridge. Below and further west of the Earth Bridge, there are two parallel tracks which I call the split track, one higher and one lower. My theory is that the higher of these is the original pipe track, while the lower track was created later as a work space during work on the Earth Bridge, which was initiated as part of a repair of a significant leak in the water race.
Under the Earth Bridge there is a drainage pipe designed to prevent the bridge from acting as a dam. However, the top of the bridge sits well above the level of this pipe, perhaps too high. This suggests that the Earth Bridge may originally have been lower and was later built higher when the O-K pipeline was installed. If that is correct, the water race likely runs below the O-K pipe buried in the Earth Bridge and continues to the higher section of the split track which is still below the O-K pipe.
From that point, the Water Race Pipe Track appears to gradually approach the level of the abandoned section of Maintenance Road (O-K Pipe Track). Eventually both the race and the O-K pipeline reach roughly the same elevation at O-K Pipe Venturi Meter Hut.
At this hut, there is clear evidence that a meter was once mounted on the wall to measure the flow of the O K pipeline, and a newspaper article confirms its existence. Just outside the door of the hut, and also outside the window opposite the door, there are areas of concrete that appear to conceal former entrances to the water race. According to a witness, these openings were sealed with concrete to prevent people entering the race.
Beyond this point the systems diverge again. The O-K pipeline descends toward Richard Prouse Park, while the water race remains higher on the hillside and continues toward a vertical shaft / well where the water once plunged into Coleman’s Tunnel below.
This suggests that the O-K Venturi Meter Hut marks the point where the two systems meet. From the dam to the hut, the O-K pipeline sits higher than the water race. From this hut toward Coleman’s Tunnel, the water race becomes the higher of the two.
With these facts and theories in mind, I set out to search for evidence that might support or challenge my current understanding.
I began at Scour Pipe. While there I noticed what initially looked like a rusty pipe protruding from the ground, although at first glance it could easily have been mistaken for a branch. When I touched it, however, it was clearly metallic. I was able to bend it slightly and realised it extended further underground than was visible.
I dug down to expose more of it and eventually uncovered the entire object. It was seriously rusted and surprisingly heavy. Its shape resembled a bow, as in bow and arrow, although the pipe itself had been bent rather than manufactured in that shape. I photographed it before continuing along the trench that I believe may be the original pipe track.
From there I returned to the Scour Pipe and followed the higher section of the split track, which I believe represents the pipe track. I then climbed up to Maintenance Road (O-K Pipe Track) and walked toward Coleman’s Tunnel, scanning the bank below for signs of where the Water Race Pipe Track might intersect it. I think I may have identified the general location, although it was difficult to confirm.
Walking along this section of Maintenance Road (O-K Pipe Track), it clearly descends, which matches the fall of the O-K pipeline. By contrast, the route of the water race seems to rise slightly. In reality it was probably designed to remain relatively level, but because the O-K track drops away, the race appears to climb in comparison.
I eventually reached the O-K Venturi Meter Hut, where we know the water race and pipeline are at similar elevations. I photographed the hut from inside, outside, and from the roof. On the interior wall you can see the outline where the meter once hung, unless that shape was painted later. Beneath this area I also photographed the small access chamber and associated pipes.
After leaving the hut I headed back toward the Earth Bridge, staying below the bank of Maintenance Road (O-K Pipe Track) in an attempt to locate either the water race itself or the pipe track associated with it. As on previous visits, I found nothing interesting here. The hillside is steep and littered with rocks, much of which appears to be spoil that was thrown downhill during the construction of Maintenance Road (O-K Pipe Track) above.
Eventually I returned to the split-track area where the suspected pipe track becomes quite pronounced. Nearby I found three bricks lying close to one another. I have seen these before on earlier trips, but never all three together on the same trip. I placed them together and photographed them for reference.
From there I returned to the Earth Bridge and then made my way out of the bush.
The trip did not significantly change my understanding of the route, but it was still worthwhile. At the very least, it was interesting to uncover an old artefact, even if it is severely rusted and it’s original purpose remains unknown.
