A concrete wall running below Reservoir Road has long puzzled some local historians. This has prompted me to explore some practical theories that could explain its purpose and the likely period of its construction.
For example, I have suggested in the past that it may have been built following the 1883 dam breach, during which a major landslip occurred leading to the possibility that the wall was a way to stabilise the land after the significant slip. Another possibility I considered, was the severe flood of 1904, the most damaging storm since 1895, which also caused widespread slslips.
However, I recently discovered another article dated in February 1887 which refers to a concrete wall constructed to address leaks from the water race, attributed to land subsidence. This was reportedly caused by a stream that flowed through a gully above, passing beneath both the water race and the road and weakening their foundations. However, the term “concrete wall” in this context may be misleading. It could actually refer to a known brick headwall at the end of a drainage pipe that ran under an earth bridge, a known location for a serious leak in the water race between The Dam and Coleman’s Tunnel. In its favour though, the location of this water leak is near the concrete wall.
However, the most credible explanation I have come across for the mysterious concrete wall comes from a news article dated September 1902. This report appears to describe the wall in question, indicating it was built when the water race was decommissioned and replaced by a pipeline. A Venturi meter was also introduced at this time to measure water flow in the new pipeline. According to this article, the wall was built to prevent the river from eroding further towards Reservoir Road and to provide a stable foundation for the new pipeline extending past that area.
The wall sits just below the bank on Reservoir Road and is hidden from view. However, if you visit Gums Loop Meadow, a short walk through the eucalypt forest to the riverbank offers a clear view of it.
Tags: Concrete Wall Waterworks
