Page 5 - City of Cessnock Water Supply and Sewerage Service Utility

4

Total height of the walls from foundation is twenty-two (22')
feet. The floor is a bed of twelve (12") inches thick concrete.
The walls are of brick and are four (4') feet thick at the foot
to one foot six (1 61 11 ) at the top. The roof of the Reservoir
supported on piers is composed of concrete and asphalt. The
bricks were made on Shamrock Hill. The plans were prepared
by Mr. C.W. Darley. The piers were manufactured by Messrs.
Morrison and Bearby. The contractor is Mr. Thomas A. Bourke of
Wallsend. He and his employees have carried out the work
to this date with fidelity."

The work was slow in reaching Newcastle. Following much political
'humbugging' and also a drought in 1884, that required the Railway Department to
convey water by train to the local mining towns and villages, on 31st December
1885, finaly slightly discoloured Hunter River water, described as of very
fair taste, reached Newcastle by the newly completed pipeline.

Early in 1892 N.S.W. Parliment passed a Bill setting up the Hunter
District Water Supply and Sewerage Board. On 17th June, 1892 the Honorable
Alexander Brown, Member of the Legislative Council was appointed the first
President of the Board. James S. Rodgers and H.D. Walsh were the first
Government appointed members~ The various Municipal Council representatives who
made up the other members of the New Board were:-

1. JOHN R. RODGERS Mayor of Newcastle

(Note: John R. Rodgers was the son of
James S. Rodgers)

2. HENRY RUSHTON Mayor of Wallsend

3. ARTHUR C. LEE For the West Maitland & East Maitland

Morpeth Councils

4. ARTHUR GARDINER Representing the other mining hamlets
and the other municipalities.