| Bankstown Reservoir | |
|---|---|
 The pillared water tower | |
 Interactive map of Bankstown Reservoir | |
| Location | 300Hume Highway,Bankstown,New South Wales |
| Coordinates | 33°54′19.78″S151°02′22.74″E / 33.9054944°S 151.0396500°E /-33.9054944; 151.0396500 |
| Elevation | 20 metres (66 feet)AGL |
| Built | 1920; 105 years ago (1920) |
| Built for | Metropolitan Board of Water and Sewerage, Sydney |
| Architect | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
| Architectural styles | Federation Free Classical Romanesque revival |
| Governing body | City of Canterbury-Bankstown |
| Official name | Bankstown Reservoir |
| Type | Built |
| Designated | 18 November 1999 |
| Reference no. | 01316 |
Bankstown Reservoir is aheritage-protectedwater tower and a locallandmark situated in theSydney suburb ofBankstown,New South Wales, Australia. Located 22 kilometres (14 mi) west ofSydney CBD, thereservoir is elevated and was built onreinforced concretepiers, which is one of the oldest of this type that is still in use.
Thereservoir features various decorative attributes, plastered by hand, which lack in other functional reservoirs. Established in 1920, the reservoir serves a large area ofSouth-Western Sydney. At the time of its construction in 1918, the reservoir was the largest elevated reinforced concrete reservoir in Australia.[1]
In 1826, the reservoir was once ahanging site forbushrangers. Patrick Sullivan and James Moran, both members of Sullivan's gang, were hanged at the site on 18 October 1826 after creating a stir in theBathurst district. The site on which the Reservoir sits may be connected with the earliest period of Bankstown's European settlement, transport routes, the bushrangers which traversed Liverpool Road and the appearance and carrying out of law and order in the district.[2]
Construction of Bankstown Reservoir began in October 1918. The reservoir was built to meliorate the pressure on Ashfield Reservoir and obviate pumping fromRyde. In November 1918, thecornerstone for the piers were unveiled in stiffclay to an unfalteringshale foundation, to an average depth of 2.7 metres (9 feet). The concrete for the reservoir was made on site, with the sandstone acquired from a quarry atPotts Hill.
Power was administered by a portablesteam engine. The rendering was made by ornamental exteriorplastering andwaterproofing of the interior of tank bycement gun. Hand rendering began in February 1920. Extra adjustments to the reservoir include thealuminium roof built in 1962 to preserve water quality. It is likely that the concrete walkway was removed or covered by the roof.[1]
After its completion, elevated reservoirs built in reinforced concrete became common until the 1950s, with one similar tower established in the 1930s inPadstow Heights.[3]
Bankstown reservoir is built of reinforced concrete and contains a circularwater tank. Being akin to arotunda, it is backed up by 36 strengthened concretepillars and decorative arches which encircle the establishment. The inward columns are assembled of reinforced concrete while the outer ones consist of plainconcrete.Construction aggregate was used for the concrete in the elevated tank and its columns andsandstone conglomeration for the bowed encirclement and ground foundations at the bottom. Instead of ahandrail at the top, the reservoir has a concrete rectangular paneledparapet wall.[4]
The tower's arches have a moulding and a circular pattern above each column, with the base of the tank having mouldedapron with rectangular panels above. Furthermore, the structure wasrestrengthened to abide to theearthquake code in 2009. The design of Bankstown Reservoir exemplifies theVictorian andneoclassical architectural of the early 20th century. Its structure is mostly intact and has sustained minor alterations thus retaining its integrity. The reservoir has been roofed to safeguardwater quality in the 1960s-1970s. The reservoir is surrounded bybrush box,coral tree,poplar andfig trees.[2]
The reservoir is renowned for being the first concrete reservoir to be elevated on concrete piers.Sydney Water Heritage Program leader Phil Bennett stated the Bankstown reservoir has "the highest level of heritageprotection because it is the oldest of the class of elevated reinforced concrete reservoirs". Mr Bennett concluded, “It’s quite decorative so it has aesthetic value and it sits very prominently on a hill top and itcan be seen for miles, so it has landmark values”. The reservoir has afoot bridge to a walkway on the top of the water tower, passing through the centre of the tank. The tower's rooftop, being 86 metres (282 feet)above sea level, provides panoramic views of theSydney skyline andGreater Western Sydney area.[5]
In 2015, it was proposed byBankstown City Council andSydney Water for the tower to be ornamented with decorative lights from sunset to sunrise, akin to those displayed inVivid Sydney. Bankstown councillor Naji Najjar's vision was to turn the tower into atourist attraction that could rival Coffs Harbour'sBig Banana and Goulburn'sBig Merino, stating "I believe it is important that Bankstown City Council, together with Sydney Water, take the opportunity to promote this icon of our city".[6]
As part of Cr Najjar's plan, the area would also be embellished with fencing, landscaping and Australian native gardens, with interpretative signage, including a stonemonument revealing the site's history. He concludes, "The lighting could have themes for various charity and community events andawareness campaigns". The council would eventually write to theState Government and await approval.[7]
With its capacity of 4.4 ML (970,000 imp gal; 1,200,000 US gal) and water depth of 8.7 metres (29 feet), Bankstown Reservoir suppliesdrinking water to households as far west asVillawood andCondell Park in the southwest,Croydon in the east, andAuburn andNorth Strathfield in the north.[8]
_-_SHR_Plan_2015_(5051417b100).jpg)
The reservoir is situated on the corner ofHume Highway and Stacey Street in the northeastern periphery ofBankstown, borderingGreenacre. However though, the main entry to the water tower is from Beresford Avenue, which is adead end street accessed from Hume Hwy.[9]
The reservoir was listed on theNew South Wales State Heritage Register as a site of State significance on 18 November 1999 with the following citation:[10]
Bankstown Elevated Reservoir has a considerable level of state heritage significance as a representative example of a common reservoir design strongly favoured by Board engineers during the early period of the twentieth century. It is the oldest elevated reservoir constructed in reinforced concrete that is still in use. At the time of its construction it was the largest elevated reinforced concrete reservoir, and symbolised the technological advancements of the time. It displays decorative and formal architectural qualities and shows a high level of workmanship and technical accomplishment. It has several features which distinguish it from other elevated reservoirs of this type, including; the central concrete access tower; the concrete footbridge connecting the tower to the walkway and which encircles the perimeter of the top bank; and the mercury U-shaped tube depth gauge. It is currently still in active service and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape of Bankstown.
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence.
This Wikipedia article was originally based on theBankstown Reservoir (Elevated), listed on the "New South Wales State Heritage Register" published by theGovernment of New South Wales underCC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 27 March 2018).
Media related toBankstown Reservoir at Wikimedia Commons