SPOTSWOOD PUMPING STATION WHARF PILES AND MOORING CHAINS
100 THE STRAND SPOTSWOOD, HOBSONS BAY CITY
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Statement of Significance
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SPOTSWOOD PUMPING STATION WHARF PILES AND MOORING CHAINS - History
The Spotswood Pumping Station was opened in the 1890's to alleviate the Melbourne's sewerage pollution problem. The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works established three main trunk sewerage lines which led under the river to the Spotswood, where the sewerage was pumped up to a level that facilitated gravitational drainage to the Werribee Treatment Plant. The first steam engine at the site was put into operation in 1897, and the station was converted to electricity in 1921. The pumping station led to an immediate increase in public health conditions within the city as disease promoting conditions were alleviated. The works represented the largest civil engineering undertaking in the 19th century in Australia. Coal was delivered to power the station's pumps via the river front access, which would indicate that a wharf or jetty was once constructed on the foreshore. Two sewer trunk lines are also known to connect to the former pumping station under the river.
SPOTSWOOD PUMPING STATION WHARF PILES AND MOORING CHAINS - Interpretation of Site
Wharf used to supply coal to the sewerage pumping station engine. The chain and iron cable that protrudes from the embankment (approximately 600 m to the north) may have been used to moor vessels along side a former wharf that may have existed at the site. Further historical investigation is needed for this site. Two sewer trunk lines are also known to connect to the former pumping station under the river.
The piles and mooring chains were the only examples related to a sewerage station fuel delivery pier. Spotswood pumping station is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Heritage Inventory Description
SPOTSWOOD PUMPING STATION WHARF PILES AND MOORING CHAINS - Heritage Inventory Description
A number of timber piles are evident in front of the pumping station, towards the southern end of the Pumping Station River Frontage. Two piles are exposed at low tide in front of the bluestone beaching that lines the foreshore, and another pile is partially buried in the foreshore approx 5m inshore of these piles. A section of iron stud-link chain (2 m long x 30 cm link x 5 cm diameter) is embedded in the foreshore in this same area. Another length of chain and an iron cable protrude from the embankment approximately 600 m to the north.
Piers, mooring chains and trunk sewer tunnels.
Archeological Potential: Good
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SEWERAGE PUMPING STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1555
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CSL (COMMONWEALTH SERUM LABORATORIES) COLLECTIONVictorian Heritage Register H2422
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SPOTSWOOD PUMPING STATIONVictorian Heritage Inventory
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