| Mundaring Weir |
Article Index for Mundaring |
Website Links For Mundaring |
Information AboutMundaring Weir |
|
Mundaring Weir is a suburb in , 2006) in the Darling Scarp . It is named after the Mundaring Weir dam across the Helena River , in Western Australia . The town was gazetted in 1898, the same year as the commencement of construction of the dam. HISTORY A soldier, Ensign Robert Dale, became the first European to explore the region in 1829 . European populations did not grow significantly until construction of the dam in the late 1890's. This involved the building of a railway line from Mundaring to the Mundaring Weir site. The Irish Australian engineer C. Y. O'Connor was involved the design of a scheme that transported water to the Eastern Goldfields of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie in the eastern part of Western Australia. The lake created by the dam thus became known as 'Lake C.Y. O'Connor' Work commenced to raise the dam in the late 1940's, which was completed in November 1951. A service train which was used to supply timber to the pumping station until the late 1920's can still be seen when the capacity of the dams falls below approximately 35%. Mundaring was a railway stopping place until 1952, on the Mundaring Weir Branch Railway . Special excursion trains to Mundaring Weir, specially when the weir was overflowing, were very popular. In the 1960's and 1970's another dam downstream from the weir - the 'pipehead dam' was constructed. The landscaped grounds of the weir, and the zig-zag section of the end of the railway line feature prominently in post cards of weekend and picnic special trains that travelled to the weir until the late 1940's. The steepness of the Mundaring weir railway line restricted the capacity of the railways to conduct the picnic trains - as the Msa Garratt engines were the most suitable, but in short supply. The line was closed in 1909. FACILITIES Mundaring Weir Hotel, previously known as the Reservoir Hotel, then the Goldfields Weir Hotel History of the Mundaring Weir Hotel www.mundaringweirhotel.com.au (accessed 01 April , 2006) has been in the area since 1898. After a period of decline it has once again regained popularity in recent years becoming a get-away for Perth residents, thanks to the current owner, Jens Jorgensen who bought it in 1984. The old 'Pumping Station Number 1' is now the C Y O'Connor Museum run by the National Trust. There is also the Kookaburra outdoor cinema, and also the Department Of Conservation And Land Management (CALM) has an activity centre, as well as regional office. Before rationalisation of its work force at this locality, the Water Authority Of Western Australia 's operations at the Weir maintained housing for its workers. There is a youth hostel (built at the site of the now defunct primary school), an Art Gallery in the area and many picnicing spots. The Bibbulmun Track route commences from Kalamunda along the Helena river to the weir then continues onto Albany . REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
|