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Main Outfall Sewer
Millers Road and Princes Highway BROOKLYN, Hobsons Bay City

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Hobsons Bay City

Main Outfall Sewer, Hobsons Bay Heritage Study 2006

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

What is Significant?

The route of the Main Outfall Sewer reserve (part), constructed in 1896-97 along a route within the municipality extending from the MMBW Brooklyn Pumping Station in Millers Road to the Princes Highway.

How is it Significant?

The route of the Main Outfall Sewer reserve (part) is of local historic and technical significance to the City of Hobsons Bay. It is also of historical and scientific (engineering) significance to the State of Victoria (Refer VHR H1932).

Why is it Significant?

Historically, the Main Outfall Sewer is significant as an integral part of a visionary scheme, which meant a vast improvement in Melbourne's public health and enabled the expansion of the metropolitan area for more than 60 years. It was one of the largest public works projects ever carried out in Australia and one of the most effective sewerage systems in the world. It has strong associations with the formation of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works as one of the first major projects carried out by the authority and illustrates the important role of this organisation in the development of Melbourne at a critical time in its history. (AHC criteria A4 and H1)

Technically, the Main Outfall Sewer is significant as a major link in the most extensive engineering project undertaken in Victoria to that date. The concrete and brick open and covered sewer is a fine example of the technology of the period and exhibits a high level of integrity. (AHC criterion F1)

Note: Included on the Victorian Heritage Register as VHR H1932.

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- Physical Description 1
  
  Main Outfall Sewer - Physical Description 1
  
  The outfall sewer begins at the end of the rising main from the Spotswood Pumping Station in Douglas Parade, and travels underground to the Brooklyn Pumping Station at 89 Millers Road. From here it is visible above ground as a treed reservation running alongside the entrance driveway to the Brooklyn Pumping Station and parallel to the Millers Road City bound on-ramp to the West Gate Freeway. The trees appear to be mature sugar gums that possibly date from after the opening of the Brooklyn Pumping Station in 1965.
  
  The track then crosses Millers Road before turning to the north west and crossing the Princess Highway at Cypress Avenue Brooklyn to continue south west under Dohertys Road at Laverton North and then generally follows the Old Geelong Road through Laverton. It then runs on the north side of the Princes Highway until Werribee where it crosses the highway heading to the south before entering the Metropolitan Farm.
  
  The major features of the sewer are located within the City of Wyndham and include the elevated and covered channels which are generally concrete lined, and the impressive stone, brick and concrete viaducts over Kororoit Creek and the Werribee River. A lesser viaduct crosses Skeleton Creek (Vines, 1989).
  
  The western plains provided a great opportunity for the construction of the system which allowed it to become one of the world's most effective, with large areas of cheap land, low rainfall and a high evaporation rate. (ibid). The sewer is under constant renewal with new mains being laid beside the existing which has allowed retention of the system, albeit rendering it redundant.
  
  Integrity
  
  Main Outfall Sewer - Integrity
  
  External Condition
  
  Good
  
  External Integrity
  
  High
  
  Physical Description 2
  
  Main Outfall Sewer - Physical Description 2
  
  Context
  
  Traverses open flat country with ever increasing development along its path.
  
  Historical Australian Themes
  
  Main Outfall Sewer - Historical Australian Themes
  
  Providing services, Providing sewerage services
  
  Physical Description 3
  
  Main Outfall Sewer - Physical Description 3
  
  Associations
  Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study
  
  Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
  Year: 2006
  Grading:
- Show:
- MAIN OUTFALL SEWER
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H1932
- MMBW Brooklyn Pumping Station
  
  Hobsons Bay City
- Melbourne-Geelong Road Precinct
  
  Hobsons Bay City