AGY-1206 | Barrier Ranges and Broken Hill Water Supply Company (b. 1890) / Broken Hill Water Supply Company (1890-1939)

Full description

The Broken Hill Water Supply Act, 1890 gave the Broken Hill Water Supply Company (also known as Stephen's Creek Company) the power to supply Broken Hill with "water of good quality, and, under the circumstances at a good price". The Company constructed the Stephens Creek Dam, the original steam pumping station with a rising main to the Mica Street Reservoir, together with reticulation to the town and mines. The rights of the company under the Act were to expire on 17 December 1918 with all installations reverting to the Government. The pressures of an expanding population, drought, high water costs, and the demands of the mining companies led to Government intervention. The construction of the Umberumberka Dam was facilitated by the Broken Hill and Umberumberka Water Supply Act, 1906 (Act No. 54 1906,) its amending Act, Act No. 11 1907, and the Broken Hill (Umberumberka Creek) Water Supply Act, 1910 (Act No. 31, 1910) . The Broken Hill Water Supply Administration Act, 1915 (Act No. 43, 1915) repealed the Umberumberka Acts and placed the Broken Hill Water Works under the control of the Department of Public Works from January 1 1916. In 1921 new pumping machinery was installed at Umberumberka. The Stephens Creek pumping station was converted from steam to electricity in 1931. The Broken Hill Water Supply Administration Act, 1915 (Act No. 43, 1915) was repealed by the Broken Hill Water and Sewerage Act, 1938 (Act No. 20, 1938) which constituted the Broken Hill Water Board .