AGY-5952 | Harbours and Rivers Branch [I] [Department of Public Works]

Full description

The first Engineer-in-Chief for Harbours and Rivers of the Department of Lands and Public Works was Edwin Orpen Moriarty who was appointed on 10 October 1858. (1) The branch may have been known as the Engineer's Department prior to 1881 when it is documented as the Harbours and Rivers Branch. (2)

From 1891 to 1892 the branch had responsibility for water supply. In 1893 responsibility for water supply was removed. Water supply was again added in 1894. In 1894 and 1895 the Department of Public Works was reorganised with a number of staff transferred to the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage. (3)

In 1896 the works carried out by this branch were classified as follows: '(a) works for the improvement, maintenance, and convenience of navigation; (b) water supply (gravitation or pumping); (c) works not comprised under either of the above heads.' (4)

The Harbours and Rivers Branch was reorganised in 1904 when it became the Rivers, Water Supply and Drainage Branch. (5)

References
Public Service List, 1858-1903

Endnotes
1. Public Service List, 1858, p.54.
2. Ibid., 1868, p.73; Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, 1881, Vol. 3, pp.939-940. Sydney Water Supply (Progress of Works. Report of the Engineer-in-Chief for Harbours and Rivers).
3. Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, 1895, Vol. 1 pp.541-546. The Civil Service (Statement showing savings on salaries and allowances effected by the reorganisation of the Public Works Department during 1894 and 1895.
4. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June 1896, p.21.
5. Public Service List, 1904, p.125; Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June 1904, p.?.