15 December 2009
HERITAGE RESTORED AT WERRIBEE TREATMENT PLANT
- 150-year-old heritage-listed water tank restored
- Vintage fire truck used to protect catchments to be brought back to former glory
Melbourne Water is capturing the city’s water history with the restoration of a 150-year-old tank and a vintage fire truck at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee.
The renewal of the 150,000-gallon (568 kilolitres) tank recognises the importance of this asset to Melbourne’s early water supply.
The tank, erected in 1854 near the corner of Albert and Gisborne streets, East Melbourne, was originally built to supply Melbourne with water from the Yarra River.
The tank was constructed on an arched bluestone base and assembled with cast iron rimmed plates. In 1892, it was re-erected at the treatment plant (then the Metropolitan Sewage Farm), and was used as a stand-by in case of mains failure up until 1925. In 1929, the tank was finally de-commissioned and drained.
Melbourne Water’s Heritage Services Co-ordinator, Paul Balassone, said after 80 years standing idle, the historic heritage-listed tank would have a new lease of life at the former workers’ township of Cocoroc.
“The tank has undergone major restoration, with a fresh exterior and works to ensure its structural integrity and longevity,” said Mr Balassone.
“We’ve refurbished the underside, making better use of the substantial 90m2 of floor space, which for many years was used simply for storage.
“Plans are now underway to develop the tank as a heritage interpretive centre, a natural extension of the treatment plant’s discovery centre, focusing on the theme, The Past.”
Melbourne Water, with the help of the Fire Services Museum and Wyndham Recovery Association, is also restoring a vintage fire truck used in the past to help protect Melbourne’s 160,000 hectares of water supply catchments from bushfire.
Mr Balassone said the project was initiated by local resident and Wyndham Recovery Association member John Brodel, who noticed the truck on a visit to the treatment plant.
“As a member of an active community group focused on the protection and preservation of local heritage, John approached the Fire Services Museum to inspect the truck and get advice on the proposal to restore it.”
“We’re now working with the community group and museum to restore the truck.”
The truck was today taken to the museum’s Newport workshop for the works to begin. Once restored, it will join the refurbished tank at the treatment plant’s heritage precinct.
Media Contact: Nicolas McGay - (03) 9235 2278; 0438 981 836