FORMER LINCOLN GULLY SERVICE RESERVOIR

CRESWICK-BUNGAREE ROAD CRESWICK, HEPBURN SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    FORMER LINCOLN GULLY SERVICE RESERVOIR - History

    Much of the physical infrastructure of the original Creswick Municipal Water Supply scheme remains intact, although many elements were upgraded and added in the years following the system's completion. The main elements still to be found include the Bullarook (Dean) Reservoir, parts of the race along Creswick (Back) Creek, the Lincoln Gully Service Reservoir, and the small dam on the White Hills Water Reserve. In addition, features such as Bragg's Dam and Russell's Dam and the associated water races, which were acquired by the Council to augment the town water supply, are also intact.

    Perhaps the most striking extant feature of the Creswick water supply scheme is the Lincoln Gully Service Reservoir, which was completed by 1864 (Figure 53). It is located on the eastern side of Lincoln Gully about 25 metres south of the Creswick-Melbourne Road. The reservoir is approximately 150 metres in length and up to 25 metres in width, with a maximum wall height of 3 metres. The reservoir is not built within a gully or depression but on the side of a gentle slope. It functioned as service reservoir within the system, maintaining water flow to the White Hills. It appears to have held approximately 7.5 ML of water, which was only a fraction of that contained, for example, in Bragg's Dam.

    Interpretation of Site

    FORMER LINCOLN GULLY SERVICE RESERVOIR - Interpretation of Site

    The service reservoir was constructed in 1864 to increase water pressure in order for

    water to reach White Hills Reservoir. Although the water flowed into the reservoir from

    Dean (Bullarook) reservoir via flumes, pipes and races, the amount was often not sufficient

    and the service reservoir needed to be kept topped up by water diverted from Bragg's race

    (Council Minutes 1/11/1864). In 1869 J. Roycraft leased surplus water from Bullarook from

    the Council, over and above the water needed for domestic supply in Creswick. Roycraft

    maintained all the pipes, races, flumes and reservoirs at Bullarook, lincoln Gully and

    White Hills and also the fencing at the latter (Lease document between J. Roycraft and

    Borough Council 1869 CRC). Ironically, in 1870 the council need to purchase water back

    from Roycraft (Creswick Advertiser 15/8/1870). Water was diverted from Russells race into

    the service reservoir.

    The reservoir is no longer in use.

    Archaeological Significance

    FORMER LINCOLN GULLY SERVICE RESERVOIR - Archaeological Significance

    The lincoln Gully Service Reservoir has a high level of archaeological significance. The

    site is well preserved, with extant features relating to the diversion of water into the

    reservoir. The site is also unusual for having been built on the side of a gentle slope. It has

    the potential to reveal important information about 19th-century earthworks, dam

    construction and water management.

    Historical Significance

    FORMER LINCOLN GULLY SERVICE RESERVOIR - Historical Significance

    The site has a HIGH level of historical significance at a local level. The site is associated

    with the construction of the Creswick water supply and the struggle to bring water to

    Creswick.

    Due to the excellent preservation of a large part of the Creswick goldfield, the intertwined

    narratives of mining, water supply, environmental consequences and rapidly evolving

    legislation can be read in the landscape. At a state level the site contributes to broader

    narratives of water supply and mining (Victorian Historical Theme 4.5 & 4.6) and informs

    the development of both mining and water management laws for the State of Victoria.

    The reservoir and associated race systems is one of many on the Creswick alluvial

    goldfield that together make up an important and well preserved cultural landscape of

    water management.

    Combined with Creswick's strong education facilities and proximity to Melbourne and

    Ballarat, an increased awareness in water management complexes could provide

    Creswick with excellent educational and tourism opportunities illustrating the story of

    bringing water to Creswick.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    FORMER LINCOLN GULLY SERVICE RESERVOIR - Heritage Inventory Description

    The reservoir is approximately 150 metres in length and up to 25 metres in width, with a

    maximum wall height of 3 metres. A regulator to divert water from Bragg's Humbug race

    into the dam is built from hand-made, wet-pressed bricks, with a cement lining, and is 47

    cm wide, with a hemispherical cross-section. An iron sluice gate fitted into concrete

    buttresses set within the race. A concrete overflow, at the south-west corner of the

    reservoir, is 5.90 metres long and 2.0 metres wide.

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