Malmsbury - Malmsbury Reservoir - Central

Malmsbury - Malmsbury Reservoir

One of the earliest water conservation schemes and constructed in 1865 the reservoir is now a domestic water supply surrounded by picturesque forest and farmland. Bank fishing is permitted and the reservoir fishes particularly well when the water is rising over newly grassed shallow margins. The reservoir is stocked regularly with brown trout and also holds redfin and goldfish.

Bank fishing as well as fishing from kayaks, canoes and small portable craft is permitted. People can fish using flies, baits or lures.

There are recreational areas with picnic tables, open spaces, walking tracks and toilets. Many people visit simply to enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings. The picturesque settings are also perfect for photography and landscape painting, and are popular with birdwatchers. Car parking is provided and electric barbeques are available at a small charge.

Camping, off-road driving and swimming is prohibited. All of these activities pose an unacceptable risk to water quality. Open fires are also not permitted. Please keep to the designated walkways and recreational areas to avoid the danger of abandoned mine shafts, steep slopes and cliffs, uneven footing and trees that drop their branches.

History:

Gold and Water - The cry of 'Gold!' rang out for the first time across Central Victoria in late 1851.

Almost overnight, thousands of hopeful diggers from across the globe rushed to the creeks around Mt Alexander, hoping to dig up a fortune from the world's richest alluvial goldfield.

Diggers also invaded the nearby Bendigo Valley in October 1851, following Margaret Kennedy's discovery of gold in the Bendigo Creek. Within six months the Mt Alexander (or Castlemaine) and Bendigo goldfields housed tens of thousands of diggers: panning, digging and cradling for gold by day, and living by night in canvas tents along the gullies.

Water was the key to winning this gold, because without water the diggers couldn't wash the tiny specks of gold from their pay-dirt. The diggers also needed clean water to drink. But each summer the Bendigo and Forest Creeks dried up. The mining communities that relied on these creeks for most of their water were left with only filthy pools that brought with them terrible diseases such as cholera, dysentery and diarrhoea.

It would take 26 years before the opening of the famous Coliban Water Works would largely end the annual summer drought on the Bendigo and Castlemaine goldfields.

The original Coliban system of water works - The original Coliban Water Works were designed in 1863 by the Irish engineer Joseph Brady. The system included 70 kilometres of open water channels, aqueducts, syphons and tunnels to carry water (by gravity) from the Coliban River at Malmsbury, north to Castlemaine and Bendigo.

Working for the Bendigo Water Works Co. in 1858, Brady designed eight reservoirs along the Bendigo Valley - six for gold mining and two for domestic purposes.

No. 1 Reservoir was built in 1859 across the Bendigo Creek at the corner of High and Maple Streets. However, it leaked and was soon abandoned.

No. 7 Reservoir (now decommisioned) was built in 1861, and included Brady's clever water treatment plant that used sand to filter the water, and an underground cistern for clean water storage: an Australian first!

Brady also designed Crusoe Reservoir (built 1873, now decommissioned), which featured an even more complex water treatment plant. Before Crusoe was completed, Brady won a 500 pound Victorian Government prize to design a system to carry water from a reservoir, soon to be built across the Coliban River at Malmsbury, all the way to Bendigo (45 kilometres to the north 'as the crow flies').

His solution was a channel that would wind its way for 70 kilometres through the hilly country between Malmsbury and Bendigo. After much haggling by politicians over the cost, water finally flowed along the Coliban Main Channel in November 1877.

The coliban system today - Since 1877 Brady's Coliban System of Water Works has supplied most of Bendigo and Castlemaine's water. Two extra reservoirs have been built upstream from Malmsbury Reservoir (Lauriston and Upper Coliban Reservoirs), and the channel system has been extended to carry water to Kyneton, Maldon, Taradale and Harcourt. And while the golden days of mining are gone, many other industries such as farms, orchards and food processors now rely on water from the Coliban System.

The Coliban engineer, Joseph Martin Brady (1828-1908) - Described by one biographer as: 'probably the most accomplished civil engineer to have worked in Australia', Brady was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, on 18 August 1828 and served under his father Michael Brady for two years as a railway field surveyor and draftsman. He then worked through Kent and Lincolnshire under the great rail engineer Charles Vignoles.

Brady came to Australia in 1850 and worked as a draftsman with the Sydney Railway Company. He surveyed Australia's first railway line from Sydney to Parramatta, and was described as someone '.. who would skin any man he had under him.'

Brady left Sydney in 1856 - in time to help survey Melbourne's first water scheme, Yan Yean. In 1858 he was appointed engineer to the Bendigo Water Works Co, then worked on the Melbourne to Sandhurst (Bendigo) rail line, before leaving to design Brisbane's first water scheme.

Returning to Victoria in 1869, Brady worked on the Melbourne to Seymour rail line, and then resettled in Bendigo to design Crusoe Reservoir. Brady also designed many impressive Bendigo buildings including the Bishop's Palace in McCrae Street and the former Webb's 4-storey flour mill and granary on the corner of Williamson and Queen Streets.

He moved to Melbourne in 1877 to work as the first engineer of the new Melbourne Harbour Trust until 1891. Brady retired in 1894, died at Elsternwick in 1908, and was buried in the St Kilda Cemetery.

Opening Hours:

Recreational areas are open 8am till dusk all year round. We occasionally close recreational areas for maintenance works and for safety during high wind or heavy rain.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are permitted but must remain on a leash.

Review:

The picnic area has some information panels, a shelter with two tables and BBQs, unshaded tables, water tap (not suitable for drinking), bins and toilets. Boating is permitted on the reservoir for kayaks, canoes and small portable craft (car toppers) with electric motors. There are walking tracks and some some interesting architectural elements such as a large spillway and water treatment facilities.

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