1927 - Mt Evelyn
Aqueduct
The
western section of the O'Shannassy Aqueduct between Hunter Rd and Lilydale-Monbulk Rd, and the Mt Evelyn township,
became known as the Mt Evelyn Aqueduct.
It
originally cut the town of Mt Evelyn in two.
In
1933 parts of the Mt Evelyn section of the O'Shannassy aqueduct were widened to increase its capacity.
One side of
the concrete channel was removed, the channel was deepened and widened, then re-concreted. Piped sections of the aqueduct
were also duplicated to further increase flows and to maximise the benefits now available from Silvan.
The
open channel section was between Hunter Rd and Priestly Crescent - the remainder was in underground pipe.
The
Mt Evelyn Aqueduct was de-commissioned on February 7, 1972, and the rural section of land through which
it passes has been preserved as a linear park, part of the Mt Evelyn Forest.
In 1974, the MMBW sold a portion of the land at the junction of the old O’Shannassy Aqueduct and
the Silvan Outlet channel for the Melba Centre.
That section of the aqueduct has not been filled
in, and the remains of bridges to adjoining properties still exist.
Some of the bluestone walls have crumbled, and
large trees have fallen across sections of the channel.
Mt Evelyn Aqueduct Walking Trail.
This uses part of the former Mt Evelyn Aqueduct management track,
The Trail may
be accessed at its eastern terminus at Hunter Rd, off the Monbulk Rd, and continue to where it crosses Priestly Crescent,
at the point where the open Aqueduct disappears undergound in pipes.
It passes the Oasis
Youth Centre and the Mt Evelyn Primary School.
