HO75 - Former Melton Reservoir
Hannah Watts Park, High Street MELTON, MELTON SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The former Melton Reservoir, now an ornamental duck pond in the Hannah Watts Park, High Street, Melton, comprises the excavated earth tank or reservoir, and a small bluestone structure on the Toolern Creek that was part of an inlet portal to the Reservoir.
The former Melton Reservoir, Hannah Watts Park, High Street, Melton, is historically significant at the LOCAL level (AHC D2, B2, H1) as Melton's major nineteenth century attempt to address its vulnerability to the particularly low rainfall of the district and provide a dependable supply of healthy drinking water in the town. Like every other early public work scheme attempted, the success of the Reservoir in achieving its objectives was limited, and the town was essentially dependent on bore and tank water until the provision of reticulated water from the Djerriwarrh Dam in 1963.
The former Reservoir was also used as a town swimming pool in the mid nineteenth century. In recent decades it was developed into Melton's most prominent passive recreation park, at the gateway of the Melbourne approach to the town. Its pre-eminent position in the town is highlighted by its being named after honoured resident Hannah Watts, the midwife of late nineteenth and early twentieth century Melton. Since the demolition of her former homes, Lynch's Cottage, and Rosebank, the former reservoir reserve has also acquired significance as the prime monument to a woman who was venerated in her time for her contribution to the local community.
Overall, the former Melton Reservoir on High Street Melton is of LOCAL heritage significance.
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HO75 - Former Melton Reservoir - Physical Description 1
Physical Description -
The original Reservoir is now a pond, set among indigenous river red gums, and the centrepiece of a picnic ground that, with the golf links opposite, constitutes a distinctive and beautiful natural landscape gateway to the town. A bluestone structure thought to be associated with the inlet portal of a channel or pipe to the reservoir also survives on the west bank of Toolern Creek, just downstream of the bridge.
In the absence of photographs or other documentation it is not possible to know how intact the reservoir is. The dimensions of the dam are generally intact, although it is likely to be shallower.
A bluestone structure on the creek is all that survives of the inlet device, which originally consisted of a brick wall / dam on the creek, which during flood times provided a head of water to supply the gravity fed pipe to the reservoir.
HO75 - Former Melton Reservoir - Integrity
Integrity - Unknown.
HO75 - Former Melton Reservoir - Historical Australian Themes
Melton Historical Themes: 'Water'
HO75 - Former Melton Reservoir - Physical Conditions
Physical Condition - Fair
Heritage Study and Grading
Melton - Shire of Melton Heritage Study phase 2
Author: David Maloney, David Rowe, Pamela Jellie, Sera Jane Peters
Year: 2007
Grading:
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