Celebrate the start of National Water Week with a free visit to No 1 Pump Station.
Learn about life on Western Australia’s goldfields and about an amazing feat to overcome the shortage of freshwater – at the No 1 Pump Station at Minderinjy on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country. On Sunday, 20 October, you can visit for free from 12pm.
Plan your visit and book your tickets for free entry to the No 1 Pump Station
Securing a free admission ticket and selecting a time to enter is essential, so we can manage visitor expectations and capacity. Reserve your free ticket today – head to the event listing and book your session time.
We’ve reached a new height at No 1 Pump Station.
The iconic chimney at the base of Mundaring Weir has been repaired and you’re invited to help celebrate.
We’re offering free entry to the pump station too see the display about the incredible scheme to deliver water to Western Australia’s eastern goldfields. Plus, there’ll be things to discover about the chimney.
Why is it off centre? Where were the bricks made? And why are we saying we’ve reached a new height?
Recent chimney safety and conservation works
Metal strapping at the top of the 46-metre high brick chimney had deteriorated and broken posing a health and safety risk. The site has been closed since August last year and all visitation to the area restricted.
High level work using a crane included removing the deteriorated and loose metal belts, followed with masonry conservation and treatment to the metal elements at the top of the chimney.
Enjoy the company and the conversation of gold and water and learn about the Victorian engineering that made Western Australia the wonder of the world.
You can learn the history of the pipeline and the formidable insight of CY O’Connor, see three of the original Babcock and Wilcox boilers, the Green’s Economiser and one of the original Worthington Simpson triple expansion steam engines.
There are interactive pump handles, pipeline models and video showing how the pump station once worked.
Be sure to take a walk across the 1902 dam wall and take in the amazing scenery and bring a picnic to sit and enjoy your surroundings on a lovely weekend day trip to the Perth Hills.
The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme
No 1 Pump Station was the first of eight steam pump stations constructed as part of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. Designed by CY O’Connor the pipeline traverses a distance of 560 km from the Perth Hills to the WA Goldfields. The pipeline has been operating in this way for more than 100 years and the intention is it will continue to do so for another 100.
At the time of its construction (1898 – 1902) many thought the scheme would fail in its purpose to lift water higher and deliver it further than had been done at the time. Today it is recognised as an engineering wonder.
The current scheme is operated and maintained by the Water Corporation while the National Trust in Western Australia conserves historic elements such as the No 1 Pump Station, making them and the history of the water supply accessible to the public.
