Goldfields Water Supply Scheme

The gold discoveries in Western Australia in the 1890s attracted thousands of miners, immigrants, and new settlers. This population boom meant that by the mid-1890s over 40% of WA's population lived on the Eastern Goldfields.

Lack of rainfall and an absence of large quantities of fresh water meant that these communities were left to live in inadequate and unsanitary living conditions. Between 1896-1898, the Goldfields had a death rate of 16 per thousand, largely due to the prevalence of typhoid fever.

In 1895 O’Connor completed details of a plan to construct a 560km pipeline that would pump water from Mundaring to the Goldfields. The pipeline would be capable to supply these communities with more than 20 million litres of water each day.

The magnitude of this project led to significant opposition and criticism in Parliament regarding its practicality. The cost of constructing the pipeline would be equal to the colony's entire annual budget. After much debate and delay the scheme was finally granted funding and permission in 1898.

Work on the pipeline was successfully completed in January 1903 and Lady Forrest 'started' the pumping machinery at an official ceremony on 22 January of that year.

The pipeline is still in use today, and regularly maintained.

Construction of Mt Charlotte Reservoir, Kalgoorlie (1898)
State Library of Western Australia –3358B/29

Laying pipes across Darling Ranges (1902)
State Library of Western Australia –BA1471/27

Caulking machine for lead joints in the Goldfields Water Pipeline (1901) [2 images]
State Library of Western Australia – 3359B/15-16

Caulking machine for lead joints in the Goldfields Water Pipeline (1901) [2 images]
State Library of Western Australia – 3359B/15-16

Electric caulking machine on the Goldfields Water Scheme pipeline (1902) [4 images]
State Library of Western Australia – BA1471/17-20

Electric caulking machine on the Goldfields Water Scheme pipeline (1902) [4 images]
State Library of Western Australia – BA1471/17-20

‘Au fait accompli’, 1903 -Sir John and Lady Forrest at the official turning on of the water at Mount Charlotte, Kalgoorlie 24 January 1903.
Image courtesy Battye Library