YAN YEAN RESERVOIR
Note:
Whilst not part of the Maroondah Aqueduct System, a brief history of the Yan Yean Reservoir and pipe network
to Melbourne will be of general interest. The Maroondah Aqueduct originally joined the Yan Yean Pipe near the Preston
Reservoir.
1853
Work began on the Yan Yean Reservoir
1857
Yan Yean Reservoir was completed
and remains a major part of Melbourn's water supply today.Inflow and outflow is to/from the Plenty River
From its completion in 1857, water was piped from the reservoir via iron mains. After leaving
the outlet tower the water passed through the reservoir embankment in two 33 inch (840 mm) diameter pipes to the valvehouse.
The water was then brought to Melbourne by means of a 30 inch (760 mm) diameter pipe for the first seven miles (11.7
km), thence to Preston by a 27 inch (685 mm) pipe, and the remaining distance to Fitzroy in a 24 inch (610 mm) pipe.
1858
Pipes
carried water from a junction near Preston to the CBD
1874
Work commenced on the construction of a bluestone
aqueduct between the reservoir at Yan Yean and a smaller reservoir at Morang. This work was undertaken to improve the volume
of water to Melbourne. The 10 km bluestone lined channel had a capacity of about 7 million litres per day, and was replaced
with a new underground main in 1961 as Melbourne's north eastern suburbs expanded closer to the area crossed by the aqueduct.
