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| 1993 Warburton break |
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| 1993 Repairing channel |
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| 1993 Warburton break |
1923 - Bushfires, Landslips, and Floods
Whilst
the water coming from the O'Shannassy watershed was, and still is, vitally important
to Melbourne, tin the 1990s the ageing aqueduct was nearing the end of its days.
Landslips
A number
of major landslips had caused severe damage to the aqueduct over a period of years (the main ones being at the Dee Road slip
and Marysville slip, near Warburton) and whilst they had been repaired, the repairs were now failing. In addition, the cement
channel which had for so long stood the test of time was beginning to deteriorate and break up - damage from wild deer, wombats,
tree roots, falling trees and water seepage were taking their toll.
On an increasing number of occasions, there were
major breaches in the channel causing millions of litres of water to come rushing down the moutainside like a tidal wave,
carrying everything in its path. Considerable damage to property and homes was caused and whilst, fortunately, no lives were
lost, this could easily have been the case.
As the risks increased and the cost of repairs escalated, landowners near
the aqueduct began to lobby for its closure and with so many alternatives available (piping the entire aqueduct underground
was the preferred option) the long term future of the aqueduct was being seriously questioned.
In particular, the very
costly and labour-intensive nature of the aqueduct's operation, with its extensive "army" of caretakers all performing management
of the aqueduct system manually, was in doubt.
Floods of 1923
This
is an extract from the Melbourne Argus of October 17 1923:
"Owing to damage which has been done to the aqueduct of the O'shannassy water
supply by floods, water from that system will not be available until the end of the week, and then
the supply will he only partially restored.
Landslides have broken
the aqueduct in many places, and for a distance of 450ft. it has been pushed for ward 2ft. or more.
In the meantime water is being drawn from the Yan Yean reservoir. More than 70,000,000 gallons has
been used from Yan Yean in the last few days, and the warmer weather of Sunday mid yesterday increased
the consumption.
Despite the heavy rains of tlie latter part of last week, some people used
hoses lo water their gardens on Sunday evening. The public is requested by the Melbourne
and Metropolitan BHoard of Works to use water for essential purposes only, and to economise generally
during the next few weeks. Two feet of water is being drawn daily from the Surrey Hills reservoir,
and unless the consumption is reduced con siderably the Board of Works fears that a
shortage may occur
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| 1983 - Ash Wednesday - Warburton fires |
Bushfires
of 1939
Friday January 13 1939 was a day when huge bushfires ravaged Victoria. Millions
of hectares were bunned, and 71 people lost their lives,
Most of the timber mills in the Warburton district were destroyed.
This is an extract from the ABC documentary "Black
Friday 1939", where people took refuge in the O;Shannassy Aqueduct, above Warburton.
"Six hundred men set to work to defend Warburton while the women and holiday
makers took to the river as a place of refuge.
The fire that destroyed the mills in the Acheron Valley on 10 January crossed
the Acheron Gap above Warburton between 5.00 and 6.00 pm that evening. At about the same time, the arm of the fire which had
burnt-out the Watts Valley above Healesville crossed the flanks of Mt Donna Buang. The two fires met up again at about 4.00
am on the following morning and began to burn down the valley of Cement Creek, tending eastward towards the O'Shannassy catchment.
As the wind dropped, the fire began to slow. Thursday was a day of little wind and the immediate danger to the townships
of Warburton and East Warburton began to ease. Between them, Police Constable Albert Theobald and Forest Officer George Burns
had less than ten men to protect two miles of township at East Warburton.
On Friday morning the wind rose again. Des
Morrish, Max Sparkes and Harry Martyr had stationed their fire engine adjacent to the O'Shannassy aqueduct above the Warburton
Golf Course and were swimming in the channel to stay cool. When the wind rose they heard a roar like a tornado. The fire leapt
from the flanks of Donna Buang and ran like lightning downhill along Parburys Creek through wet scrub considered impossible
to burn under normal conditions. It crossed the Yarra River without pause and, moments later, Mount Little Joe was aflame
and Warburton was ringed with fire.
The full story, with a link to a 4 mins video, is at
http://www.abc.net.au/blackfriday/story/default.htm
Bushfires of 1926
This is an extract
from the Melbourne Argus, March 8, 1926:
On March 7, 1926, bush fires swept a large area near O'Shannassy waterworks. A
dense forest on both sides of O'Shannassy aqueduct was burnt out for four and a half miles. The
fire continued along the upper' side of the aqueduct to within half a mile of the weir, where 200
men are camped. They checked it out and made several breaks, which it was stated had
stopped ' the. sweep, of 'the fires, though much depends on the wind.'.
A caretaker's
hut near Little Cement Creek was destroyed, and a dozen men engaged in repair work lost everything.
Seven trees have fallen across the aqueduct' through which a great quantity of Melbourne's water
supply comes, and in.five sections the lining of the aqueduct has been broken. One tree, which fell
into the aqueduct, would probably have blocked the flow of water, but a little water
is flowing."
Floods of 1923
This is an extract from the Melbourne Argus of October 17
1923:
"Owing to damage which has been done to the aqueduct of the O'shannassy water
supply by floods, water from that system will not be available until the end of the week, and then
the supply will he only partially restored.
Landslides have broken
the aqueduct in many places, and for a distance of 450ft. it has been pushed for ward 2ft. or more.
In the meantime water is being drawn from the Yan Yean reservoir. More than 70,000,000 gallons has
been used from Yan Yean in the last few days, and the warmer weather of Sunday mid yesterday increased
the consumption.
Despite the heavy rains of tlie latter part of last week, some people used
hoses lo water their gardens on Sunday evening. The public is requested by the Melbourne
and Metropolitan BHoard of Works to use water for essential purposes only, and to economise generally
during the next few weeks. Two feet of water is being drawn daily from the Surrey Hills reservoir,
and unless the consumption is reduced con siderably the Board of Works fears that a
shortage may occur
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| 1926 repairing break |
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| 1947 slip - 2012 photo |
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