In December 1998, the National Trust announced to Members the startling but welcome news that the Water Corporation intend to vest the historic Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline and associated infrastructure with the National Trust of Australia (WA) for heritage conservation purposes. Now known as the Golden Pipeline Project, progress is well underway in ensuring this outstanding engineering feat by C Y O'Connor is holistically recognised for its impact on the community of Western Australia.

BACKGROUND
The Golden Pipeline Project is an initiative of the National Trust of Australia (WA) in conjunction with the Water Corporation of Western Australia and the eleven local government authorities along its 550 kilometre route from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie.

It encompasses the conservation and interpretation of the Goldfield Water Supply Scheme designed by C Y 0'Connor, commenced in 1898 and completed in 1903. It is arguably the most significant public work in the history of Western Australia as it has provided a reliable fresh water supply to the goldfields and the agricultural and pastoral regions along its route for nearly a century.

The National Trust has lobbied strongly and successfully for Federal and State funding to conserve and interpret the Pipeline. In so doing, the Trust aims to provide extensive opportunities for the Western Australian community to participate in the work of telling all the stories associated with the construction and maintenance of the Pipeline. These stories can include the impact on indigenous communities, the immigration of skilled workers, the establishment of campsites along the route, the history of bush hospital sites and the role of women throughout all aspects associated with the construction of the Pipeline.



CENTENARY OF FEDERATION GRANT
$1.0 million in funding has been provided through the Commonwealth's Celebration of the Centenary of Federation grant programme.

This will enable the Trust to implement:
The comprehensive conservation and interpretation of the regional infrastructure of the internationally significant Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.

This will be achieved through the following objectives:

  • To conserve the Goldfield Water Supply Scheme in accordance with the principles of the Burra Charter.

  • To promote and educate visitors about the cultural significance of the Scheme in the context of the Federation period.

  • To generate local employment by adaptation and interpretation of historic remnants to appropriate uses and restoration of the natural environment.

  • To provide major tourist attractions along the Pipeline's 550 kilometre length.

  • To ensure the local communities share the benefits and responsibilities of management.

PROJECT STAGING
The Golden Pipeline Project is a three to six year project. Within this timeframe are two major centenary celebrations closely related to the Pipeline story. The first event is the celebration of the Centenary of Federation in 2001 and the second is the centenary celebration of the official opening of the Coolgardie Goldfields Water Supply Scheme in early 2003. It is therefore sensible for the project to be structured in two stages consistent with these celebrations.

STAGE ONE: 1999 TO 2001
Stage One is focusing on works that are funded through the Commonwealth Centenary of Federation Grant and related primarily to be urgent and immediate conservation works as identified in the Conservation Plan prepared under the 1997 Australian Heritage Commission's NEGP grant. No.1 Pumping Station at Mundaring is a major component of initial development in conservation and interpretation works. In addition to conservation works, an interpretation plan has been commissioned and the first stage of signage is being implemented.

A trail feasibility study has been undertaken to be followed by a trail development study for recreation and interpretation. (Please see this edition of the Trust News for further information). An education programme will be developed and its initial stage will be completed in this period. Two sites will be developed as replica construction camps as backpacker accommodation or school campsites in later stages.

Project management will be an ongoing activity in this period and the Trust will be responsible for the community consultation and involvement together with seeking formal heritage status at State, National and International level.

CONSERVATION WORK
The Research Institute of Cultural Heritage at Curtin University of Technology has prepared the first draft of the Conservation Plan for the Trust and a second stage will incorporate the additional smaller sites such as the West Northam Tanks and Karalee Rock Dam and reservoir. In a further work, the Mt Charlotte Reservoir in Kalgoorlie will also be the subject of a special study to enhance its status as the terminus of the main water conduit.

Replacement of the roof at No.3 Pumping Station Cunderdin has been completed. This work was funded by a Lotteries Commission grant to the Shire of Cunderdin. Archaeological survey work is being carried out at 0'Connor, the No.2 Pumping Station site near Mundaring. This will be completed in early 2000 and the other sites will be investigated between 2000-2001.

The treatment/removal of asbestos has commenced at No.2 Pumping Station and will move to No.7 in the near future. Asbestos survey work to No.1 steam pumping station site at Mundaring is currently being monitored while No.3 Cunderdin site and No.4 Merredin site will be undertaken in the second quarter of 2000.

Under the Centenary of Federation $1 million grant, conservation work will commence in 2000 along the length of the Pipeline on "urgent and immediate work" identified in the Conservation Plan. Some of this work may not seem important to a casual observer, but the funds will be spent on conservation items ranging from repairs of porticos to complete roof replacement.

An application has been made for a grant to implement the immediate and urgent works at Karalee Rock dam, aquaduct and reservoir. The aquaduct is in a state of collapse and the runoff water is not reaching the reservoir and is undermining the aquaduct supports.

This is a very complex and exciting phase of the project and members may soon be able to see substantial improvements to the many varied sites along the route.

INTERPRETATION WORK
An Interpretation Plan is being finalised by the Spellbound Interpretation Consortium from Victoria. Their draft plan is due at the end of March and will be a very interesting report as it will contain the themes and images of how to "tell the story" of this project.

Historical photographs from original glass slides courtesy of Mrs Peris Lawson

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