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BACKGROUND
The western terminus of the original O'Shannassy Aqueduct was at the Surrey
Hills Reservoir No.1, on the corner of Canterbury Rd and Tower St.
This storage
facility was completed in 1892, with a capacity of 9 million gallons, servicing the
areas of Box Hill and neighbouring suburbs. Until 1914 it was fed from the Yan Yean Reservoir
by pipes.
The Reservoir was buil to on the site of the former Observation Tower,
itself erected in 1882.
When the O'Shannassy System was commissioned
in 1914, Surrey Hills was then linked to the O'Shannassy Aqueduct by pipes from Launching
Place.
In 1925, a pipe-head reservoir was built at Olinda,with a capicity of 11 million gallons - this was inserted
into the O'Shannassy System, and carried water to a smaller storage dam at Mitcham,
then to Surrey Hills.
In 1929, a second Surrey Hills storage reservoir was built, of 15 million gallons capacity, a
short distance away from the No. 1 facility, on Bentley St, on the hill near Elgar Rd,
and also fed from the O'Shannassy scheme. It incorporates the Water Tower, built
in 1929, the first to be built by the MMBW. This imposing structure,a local landmark, resembles the
Leaning Tower of Pisa, but unlike the Italian tower, it is vertical!
Both reservoirs
operate to this day, managed by Melbourne Water
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OPENING OF TIIE SURREY HILLS RESERVOIR (The Age August 5 , 1892) A very pleasing ceremony was performed at Surrey Hills on Tuesday afternoon by Mr. Charles Smith, chairman of the
water supply committee, who turned on the water into the new reservoir at Surrey Hills, which has just been completed by Messrs. Laudebr Bros. There were a large number of commissioners present, as well as the ohief
engineer, Mr. Thwaites, the assistant engineers, and the secretary of the Metropolitan Board of Works. It is now some 16 months since
the contract was let for the Surrey Hills reservoir, which is situated on Tower Hill, close to the Canterbury Rad, and equidistant
from Box Hill. The work has cost between £11,000 and £12,000, and the undertaking has been carfried out in a most creditable
and workmanlike manner by the contractors. The work was designed by Mr. Davidson, chief engineer, though tho design was
executed under the supervision of Mr. Thwaites. chief engineer of tho Metropolitan Board o£ Works. The reservoir
is capable of holding 9,000,000 gallons, nnd is supplied with wrought iron pipes laid direct from Yani Yean. It covers
about an acre of land, and has a water depth of 18 feet. As soon as Mr. Chas. Smith performed tho ceremony,
and turned on the water, it gushed through the large pipe into tho excavation with a terrific rush, the noise of which could
be hoard for a considerable distance. Three cheers were then called for Mr. Smith, after which the works were inspected
by th gentlemen and ladies present. The company then retired to one of the largo sheds, which had been handsomely decorated
for the occasion, and in which refreshments were liberally provided. A number of healths were honored, and the proceedings
closed.
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THE SURREY HILLS RESERVOIR - A LARGE
UNDERTAKING.(Box Hill Reporter November 20 1891 The
initiation and inauguration of the above work forms
a new era in the history of Surrey H]ills and the Eastern Suburbs
generally. This is the first work of any magnitude that has been
undertakel so far by the Metropolitan Board of Works, and when it is
completed it will be a valuable addition, as well as an ornament
to the eastern part ot Surrey Hills.
The site selected for the reservoir
is the spot known as the "'Iower hill," a most comnmanding position
which can be seen for miles from every direction. Tenders were accepted
for this undernaking in August last, the successful tenderers being
Messrs. Laudehr Bros. The interior of the basin consists
of an excavation which is only a few
feet lower than the main pipe. The inside walls are built up to a height of 25
feet with.deal quartering and strong boards. On the outside of this wall, which
encircles the water basin, is a sold base, width at the base of 8 feet, and
gradually tapering on the inner side to the top of the woodwork, where it is one
foot wide. On the top of this will be placed huge blocks of granite nicely dressed, and which also will be laid in cement.
Outside this is what
is known as a " mud-wall ' one foot wide, which has been constructed for the
seepage of any water that may percolate through the bed of concrete before
mentioned, and on the outside of this mud-wall is the earth buttress previously
alluded to. It will thus be seen that the walls of the reservoir are of such a
formidable nature that they could safely contain more than twice the volume of
water than the reservoir is built to conserve. Some idea of the gigantic nature
ofthe cement work may be formed when we state that it has swallowed up 1000
barrels of concrete, in addition to other material used in the manufacture of
concrete.
The reservoir is capable of holding eight million gallons of water, which
ought to be sufficient to supply tile wantls of the whole of the district. Great credit is due to tho contractors, Messrs.
Landehlr Bros., for the energetic
way in which they have pushed on with the work since the contract was let.
Should the weather prove favourable, they anticipate handing over their contract
by the middle of March next. At the present time they have a large and efficient
stall of men constantly employed, in addition to an extensive plant, consisting
of horses, drays, and other implements used in a work of this nature. It will
thus be seen that the reservoir will not be of any practical use to the district
this summer.
When the present contract is finished then the reticulation will have to be
undertaken, and this will occupy some months. However, there is one thing
certain, and that is that those persons who are within the favoured radius under
the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works will have the water laid on
in good time for the next summer. So far as Box Hill is concerned,
it is
difficult to say how that place will be affected, but it appears from all we can
learn that if we have to get it on the meter principle the cost will be
enormous, and will make many hesitate before they accept it at such a price. It
is certainly a pity for the precious liquid to be " so near,and yet so
far”
A substantial fence will be erected around the works in order to prevent
accidents. 'his will also be a safeguard against the water becoming contaminated
by people throwing any injurious substance into it. But all this will be of no
avail to the Box HiIlites if they are “shut out” from the benefits accruing from
the reservoir The reservoir occuupies
about two acres of land, which was
the crown of Tower Hill. A large excavation has been made, the earth
of which has been securely heaped up all around the reservoir. At some
places this mound of earth reaches to a height of about twenty feet,
gently tapering down until it becomes level with the outside wall of
earth, which acts as a buttress to the wood and cement walls of the
reservoir.
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