Overhead Water Tank (Power Station)
Spencer Street,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B6983
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Statement of Significance
The cast-iron overhead water tank at the Spencer Street Power Station made in 1888 by J. Abbot & Co., Gateshead, England and altered and moved in 1927 to its present location is of historical, and technical significance at the State level.
The tank is of historical significant as the only major surviving element of the system used to generate and supply hydraulic power. The only other parts of the supply system to still exist are the valve covers visible in the streets of the Melbourne CBD, and hidden from view, the distribution pipes buried below the streets.
The tank is also of historical importance as the only surviving element from the original Hydraulic Power Company No. 1 Pumping Station built in 1888. Located adjacent to the Australian Wharf, on the Flinders Street Extension this pumping station provided water at high pressure for operating lifts and cranes in the Melbourne central business district, South Melbourne, and Kensington. Melbourne was the first of only two cities outside England to build a public hydraulic power supply, the second being Sydney. The tank was in use from the opening of the system in 1889 until its closure on 31 December 1967.
The tank is of technical significance because it is an early and rare surviving example of the use of imported prefabricated cast iron plates. The tanks at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee (c.1854), CSR Yarraville (c.1883), and Bendigo gasworks are the only other known examples in Victoria using this type of construction to remain. The prefabricated construction of the tank allowed for its reuse when the Melbourne City Council vacated the No. 1 Pumping Station site in 1927. When re-erected the tank was reduced in size from 115,000 gallons to approximately 58,000 gallons to suit the different pumping arrangements.
Classified: 07/06/1999
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FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS TRAINING DEPOTVictorian Heritage Register H0717
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MITRE TAVERNVictorian Heritage Register H0464
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MELBOURNE SAVAGE CLUBVictorian Heritage Register H0025
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