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113-668: Mount Crosby pumping station is a heritage-listed pumping station and weir (the Mount Crosby Weir ) at Stumers Road, Mount Crosby , City of Brisbane , Queensland , Australia. It is located on the Brisbane River and extends into Chuwar on the other side of the river. The facility supplies water to Brisbane and nearby cities and towns within the SEQ Water Grid . It was originally designed by Charles H McLay and built from 1891 to 1892. The historic parts of

226-424: A sewer force main if the sewage is transported some significant distance. The pumping station may be called a lift station if the pump merely discharges into a nearby gravity manhole. From here the cycle starts all over again until the sewage reaches its point of destination—usually a treatment plant. By this method, pumping stations are used to move waste to higher elevations. In the case of high sewage flows into

339-478: A well into a reservoir Used to pump drinking water from a reservoir into a water supply system. Government of Queensland The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland , Australia, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy . Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the state Legislative Assembly , with the governor officially appointmenting office-holders. The first government of Queensland

452-401: A chain off of the duckfoot and up the two guide rails to the maintenance (normally ground) level. Reinstalling the pumps simply reverses this process with the pump being remounted on the guide rails and lowered onto the duckfoot where the weight of the pump reseals it. As the motors are sealed and weather is not a concern, no above ground structures are required, excepting a small kiosk to contain

565-409: A chasm 50 yards wide and 20 feet deep at the end of the composite weir and bridge, and leaving the railway swinging in the air like a clothesline". The floodwaters gouged out a large section of the west bank leaving a 76m section of tramline swinging in the air. The cost to repair the damage was considerable as the weir and overbridge required further extension and stronger footings at the west bank. This

678-598: A concept pioneered during the Victorian era in places like The Fens in the UK. The introduction of "package pumping stations" has modernized drainage systems, allowing a compact, efficient solution for areas where gravity drainage is impractical. Water pumping stations are differentiated by their applications, such as sourcing from wells, raw water pumping, and high service pumping, each designed to meet specific demand projections and customer needs. Wastewater pumping stations, on

791-428: A cost of £31,000. The tramway was built to first-class railway standards. As it had been privately built, it could not officially be termed a railway line. On the west bank of the river, a 30-tonne capacity weighbridge and small cabin was constructed at the rise of the steep embankment. While initial intention was for the locomotives to deliver the coal directly to the pumping station, the steep embankments on both sides of

904-421: A depth of 36m into the ground from the ground floor of the engine house, each with a diameter of 2.4m. Within three of these wells (A, B, and C) the pumping equipment was held, with Wells D and E remaining vacant for future expansion. The pumps were "vertical, compound, tandem, direct-acting, condensing machines", and were believed to take up less floor space than other types, as the machinery was designed to work in

1017-459: A dry well or pump house and usually consist only of a wet well. In this configuration, submersible sewage pumps with closely coupled electric motor are mounted within the wet well itself, submerged within the sewage. Submersible pumps are mounted on two vertical guide rails and seal onto a permanently fixed "duckfoot", which forms both a mount and also a vertical bend for the discharge pipe. For maintenance or replacement, submersible pumps are raised by

1130-416: A flood, but rebuilt in 1897, only to be washed away again the following year. In 1899 a third bridge had been completed, which was thought to be flood-proof. Drays continued to deliver the coal to the station across this bridge and it was estimated that between 3000 and 5000 tonnes were taken to the station per year. The site chosen for the pumping station was relatively remote, with only rudimentary tracks to

1243-437: A high-level alarm indication, in the event of pump failure; and possibly a guide-rail/auto-coupling/pedestal system, to permit easy removal of pumps for maintenance. Traditional site constructed systems have the valve vault components installed in a separate structure. Having two structural components can lead to potentially serious site problems such as uneven settling between components which results in stress on, and failure of

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1356-403: A large open passage so as to avoid clogging with debris or winding stringy debris onto the impeller. A four pole or six pole AC induction motor normally drives the pump. Rather than provide large open passages, some pumps, typically smaller sewage pumps, also macerate any solids within the sewage breaking them down into smaller parts which can more easily pass through the impeller. The interior of

1469-570: A new waterworks following the passing of legislation in 1889 (the Brisbane Water Supply Act 1889), when permission was granted to draw fresh water from the Brisbane River at Mount Crosby. The new works were to be constructed on the site of a former farm, on an elevated portion of land above the river, and at the base of a high hill. A brick pumping station, installed with the latest coal-powered steam engines, would pump

1582-557: A reliable source of clean water, the pumping station is situated alongside the Brisbane River from which the water is taken. The complex consists of the 1892 pumping station and a series of contemporaneously built workers' houses, which provided accommodation for employees. Associated infrastructure and industrial remnants throughout the site represent the pumping station's technological phases. Mount Crosby pumping station continues to provide Brisbane and its surrounds with clean, safe and reliable water. The Mount Crosby district forms part of

1695-417: A second economiser house was built on its east side, beside the chimney, and a large coal store, accessed by tram rails that ran into the building, was added along the west side of the boiler house. These new buildings had attractive arched brick façades, unifying the different sections, and were completed by 1921. Important work to construct a new intake was carried out in the 1920s. It was to be situated near

1808-457: A sewage pump station is a very dangerous place. Poisonous gases, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide , can accumulate in the wet well; an ill-equipped person entering the well would be overcome by fumes very quickly. Any entry into the wet well requires the correct confined space entry method for a hazardous environment. To minimize the need for entry, the facility is normally designed to allow pumps and other equipment to be removed from outside

1921-511: A specific pump controller. RTUs are very helpful in remote monitoring of each pumping station from a centralized control room with SCADA (Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition) systems. This setup can be helpful in monitoring pump faults, levels, and other alarms and parameters, making it more efficient. A pumped-storage scheme is a type of power station for storing and producing electricity to supply high peak demands by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations. Typically, water

2034-458: A stepping series of concrete ponds over which the water cascaded. Each step held a fairly deep pool of water from which the fish would jump 23cm into the next pool, eventually reaching the top of the ladder and gain freedom in the upper reaches of the river. At this time it was reported, "lately fish ladders have been in the local news. They are familiar things abroad, especially in America, and now

2147-583: A store. Permanent housing for the pump station's employees was a component of the Board's original intent and in January 1891, respected Brisbane architect, Charles McLay, was commissioned by the Board to design eight houses. McLay, who had been responsible for the design of the Brisbane Customs House in 1889, called for tenders in January 1891, and awarded the contract to Robert Rutherford. It

2260-403: A storeroom. In 1959, a 4 tonne electric crane was added to the existing rails of the earlier hand operated crane (which was retained). Photographs from this period show the tram tracks had been removed from around the pumping station grounds, with coal not needed after electrification, but the tracks remained in situ on the 1926-1928 overbridge. Further enhancements were made to the station during

2373-429: A switchroom was installed. This deck extended almost the entire length of the engine house, 7.3m above the ground floor (later removed). All the steam-powered pumping equipment was removed in stages and replaced with more efficient, electricity-driven equipment. The boilers were also removed at this time. New pumping equipment was installed, each with the capacity to hold two pumps, rather than only one steam-driven pump, as

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2486-403: A vertical fashion, deep into the ground and high above it in the engine house. To service the equipment within the engine house, a hand-operated traveling crane was installed, running above the wells at a high level on parallel iron rails. The boiler house was attached to the centre of the north side of the engine house and was aligned north–south. It was a 44m x 13.7m structure. The eastern wall

2599-516: Is a list of those described in this encyclopedia. In the UK, during the Victorian Era , there was a fashion for public buildings to feature highly ornate architecture . Consequently, a considerable number of former pumping stations have been listed and preserved. The majority were originally steam-powered, and where the steam engines are still in situ , many of the sites have since re-opened as museum attractions. Used to pump water from

2712-407: Is available, back pumping systems may be employed. Water is extracted from the canal below the lowest lock of a flight and is pumped back to the top of the flight, ready for the next boat to pass through. Such installations are usually small. When low-lying areas of land are drained, the general method is to dig drainage ditches . However, if the area is below sea level then it is necessary to pump

2825-479: Is built into the system so that in the event that any one pump is out of service, the remaining pump or pumps will handle the designed flow. The storage volume of the wet well between the "pump on" and "pump off" settings is designed to minimize pump starts and stops, but is not so long a retention time as to allow the sewage in the wet well to go septic . Sewage pumps are almost always end-suction centrifugal pumps with open impellers and are specially designed with

2938-409: Is channeled from a high-level reservoir to a low-level reservoir, through turbine generators that generate electricity. This is done when the station is required to generate power. During low-demand periods, such as overnight, the generators are reversed to become pumps that move the water back up to the top reservoir. There are countless thousands of pumping stations throughout the world. The following

3051-840: Is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of Queensland and the Cabinet. The Premier and Ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Queensland and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under

3164-431: Is fed from underground gravity pipelines (pipes that are sloped so that a liquid can flow in one direction under gravity). Sewage is fed into and stored in a pit, commonly known as a wet well . The well is equipped with electrical instrumentation to detect the level of sewage present. When the sewage level rises to a predetermined point, a pump will be started to lift the sewage upward through a pressurized pipe system called

3277-451: Is not possible. A package pumping station is an integrated system, built in a housing manufactured from strong, impact-resistant materials such as precast concrete , polyethylene , or glass-reinforced plastic . The unit is supplied with internal pipework fitted, pre-assembled ready for installation into the ground, after which the submersible pumps and control equipment are fitted. Features may include controls for fully automatic operation;

3390-517: Is now flowing into the city from that source". A stable means of coal delivery was crucial for the running of the station. All coal supplies came from the Tivoli coal mines, several kilometres away in North Ipswich . Initially, the coal was delivered by horse-drawn wagons, each capable of holding 3 tonnes of coal. The wagons crossed the river at Colleges Crossing , approximately 2.5km south of

3503-639: The Brisbane CBD were essential. Queensland's longest telephone line at the time was installed, which ran from the engineer's house to Brisbane. As was the case with much of the station's machinery, the use of the latest technology demonstrated the importance of the station to the region. Other municipal water pumping stations with steam-powered equipment were established in Queensland at this time, including at Rockhampton (1873), Ipswich (1878), Toowoomba (1879), Warwick (1887), Maryborough (1880) and

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3616-494: The Burdekin River pumping station at Charters Towers (1887). All were smaller in scale than Mount Crosby, which remains the only large-scale pumping station complex remaining from this period with intact 19th century workers' housing. The majority of these sites retain only remnants of the early stations. The Maryborough pumping station at Tinana Creek still pumps water, but there is no longer any early fabric remaining on

3729-634: The Claverton and Crofton Pumping Stations , are preserved as museum attractions. Examples such as land drainage in the Netherlands water supply in Hong Kong and agricultural drainage in Iraq, underscore the vital role these facilities play in supporting modern infrastructure, environmental management, and energy storage. In countries with canal systems, pumping stations are also frequent. Because of

3842-597: The Gold Creek Reservoir in the early 1880s. As the population of Brisbane grew and the water supply became increasingly stretched following a series of droughts, the Brisbane Board of Waterworks recognised the necessity for expansion of water infrastructure. In 1880, government hydraulic engineer, JB Henderson, recommended the construction of a pumping station at Mount Crosby, and in 1889 the Board's chief engineer, Alexander Stewart, prepared plans for

3955-778: The Parliament of Queensland , which consists of the King , represented by the Governor of Queensland , and the one house, the Legislative Assembly of Queensland . De jure executive power rests formally with the Executive Council , which consists of the Governor and senior minister, but is exercised de facto by the state cabinet. The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which

4068-470: The 1960s and 1970s, including the installation of pumps in Wells E and F. A second switchroom was built under the roof of the southern half of the former boiler house. In 1975 work began on a new well, Well H, resulting in the southern half of the former coal store being demolished and a new brick enclosure constructed in its place. By 1963, the pumping station was providing 682,000 people with clean water. From

4181-875: The 1970s, few alterations to the station's fabric have been made. In 2019, Mount Crosby pumping station continues to provide Brisbane and its surrounds with clean and safe water. The Mount Crosby community plays a continuing role in the promotion of their history, with an active historical society and participation in annual events such as Brisbane Open House and the "Back to Mount Crosby" days. Pumping station Pumping stations are designed to move water or sewage from one location to another, overcoming gravitational challenges, and are essential for maintaining navigable canal levels, supplying water, and managing sewage and floodwaters. In canal systems, pumping stations help replenish water lost through lock usage and leakage, ensuring navigability. Similarly, in land drainage, stations pump water to prevent flooding in areas below sea level,

4294-566: The Board of Waterworks and approved the construction of a water treatment plant on Mount Crosby. Works included the construction of two separate plants - the low-level treatment works, situated below the original 1890s high-level reservoir, and the Holt's Hill filtration plant, at a higher elevation. The high-level reservoir was then used to hold water to be used as wash-water for cleaning the filtration plant's sedimentation basins. This work had been completed by 1918. Major improvements were also made to

4407-728: The Brisbane City Council and the State Government are combining to build one at Mount Crosby Weir ". Although fish ladders were not a new concept, with many being constructed in the US, Canada and New Zealand to assist salmon , the Mount Crosby fish ladder is the earliest known fish ladder in Queensland. The ladder had been completed by March 1941 and in late April the Fisheries Department reported to

4520-486: The Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council , Moreton Shire Council , Esk Shire Council, Laidley Shire Council and Gatton Shire Council to contribute to half of the £250 it would cost to build a fish ladder . The remainder would be paid by the Queensland Fisheries Department. The Brisbane City Council built the fish ladder on the east bank of the river below the weir. It consisted of

4633-404: The Brisbane River, but due to Ipswich's increasing population, supply became strained. The remainder of the original pumping equipment was removed from the engine house at this time, with another three oval dry pumping wells constructed at the western end of the engine house, requiring further expansion of the engine house another 12.5m west. The original Well A was demolished but Well B, the lift,

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4746-589: The QueenlandTreasurer that large numbers of young mullet were using the ladder, and stocks upstream were swiftly replenishing. The base of the fish ladder was damaged in the 1980s following works on the mains. As World War II intensified following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, the threat of a Japanese attack on Queensland was viewed by the authorities as likely. Protection of southeast Queensland's foremost water supply plant

4859-585: The accumulation of sedimentary mud that created the land initially. Elsewhere, pumping stations are used to remove water that has found its way into low-lying areas as a result of leakage or flooding (in New Orleans , for example). In more recent times, a "package pumping station" provides an efficient and economic way of installing a drainage system. They are suitable for mechanical building services collection and pumping of liquids like surface water, wastewater or sewage from areas where drainage by gravity

4972-460: The actions of the governor of Queensland (the representative of the monarch , Charles III ), although the governor in practice performs only ceremonial duties, with de facto executive power lying with the Cabinet . The Cabinet is the government's chief policy-making organ which consists of the premier and all ministers . Each minister is responsible for exercising policy and legislation through

5085-612: The ambit of the Australian Constitution. On 27 October 2024, Crisafulli announced that he and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie would be sworn in as an interim two-person cabinet, however which portfolios will be assigned to each of them is unknown. Crisafulli and Bleijie were formally sworn in by Governor Jeanette Young on 28 October. On 1 November 2024, the full ministry was formally sworn in, as follows: The Queensland Government delivers services, determines policy and regulations, including legal interpretation, by

5198-464: The boilers to create the steam that drove the pumping engines; The facility originally pumped untreated water from the north or eastern bank of the River, but water treatment was added later. The Mount Crosby pumping station complex has been an important part of Queensland's industrial history since first established in 1892. Several important technological phases in Queensland's history are reflected in

5311-429: The buildings, infrastructure, and industrial remnants. In continuous operation, the station has provided generations of workers with employment and accommodation in the adjacent worker's houses, reflecting the importance of providing accommodation to company workers in remote locations in the late 19th century. The prominent waterworks operation, incorporating daily life as place of employment, residence, and recreation, and

5424-466: The centre for supplies and market for the Mount Crosby farmers. Brisbane's water supply during the convict era came from a reservoir in present-day Tank Street in the Brisbane central business district . There was no pipe network; the water was delivered by water carts to households who stored their water in barrels. The water was described as having "a pea-soup colour and consistency" which required

5537-450: The demand or projected demand is reasonably defined, and is dependent on a combination of customer needs and fire flow requirements. Average annual per-capita water consumption, peak hour, and maximum daily can vary greatly due to factors such as climate, income levels, population, and the proportions of residential, commercial, and industrial users. Pumping stations in sewage collection systems are normally designed to handle raw sewage that

5650-399: The drayman were constructed on a site beside the pumping station which became known as Works Hill . By December 1891, the three engineers' residences had been completed, with the chief engineer's house located on the rise at the northern side of Stumers Road (chief engineers' house was demolished in the 1970s). The other two engineer's houses were built higher up on the ridge of the hill and on

5763-458: The efficiency and monitoring capabilities of pumping stations, essential for modern systems. Pumped-storage schemes represent a critical use of pumping stations, providing a method for energy storage and generation by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations, highlighting the versatility and importance of pumping stations across sectors. Some pumping stations have been recognized for their architectural and historical significance, e.g.

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5876-417: The electrical switchgear and control systems. Due to the much reduced health and safety concerns, and smaller footprint and visibility, submersible pump sewage pumping stations have almost completely superseded traditional sewage pumping stations. Further, a refit of a traditional pumping station usually involves converting it into a modern pumping station by installing submersibles in the wet well, demolishing

5989-429: The engine house was supplied by British company, Easton and Anderson Ltd., and the boiler house boilers were supplied by JW Sutton & Co ., manufactured in their works at Kangaroo Point , Brisbane. The engine house was a tall building, aligned east/west and approximately 23m long and housed the pumping machinery. Inside the building, five circular concrete-lined wet wells (A, B, C, D and E - west to east), were dug to

6102-569: The facility were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 October 2019. It is also listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register , together with numerous associated facilities which were not included in the state heritage listing. The Mount Crosby pumping station was originally steam-powered. A tramway was originally created for construction purposes, but was later used to transport coal to fire

6215-453: The first two houses on the left going towards the engine house, and the eight firemen are accommodated a little lower down the slope, the chief engineer's house, an exceedingly nice brick cottage, being near the works, but opposite to the other houses. In this way all those engaged on the works live on the spot. The decision of the Board to construct duplexes rather than detached cottages was unusual, and may have been for economic reasons. Due to

6328-399: The front section. Behind this was a generator room and adjacent condenser room, and behind this was a large machines workshop. The southern end of the building was not enclosed, providing easy access into the workshop. In 1922, the Mount Crosby pumping station began supplying water to Ipswich. Prior to this, Ipswich had supplied its own water from a smaller pumping facility at Kholo , also on

6441-417: The hall is used as a child-care centre. Further work at the pumping station was carried out from 1920, with the construction of a freestanding one-storey brick building to the east of the pumping station building. The building contained an office, a generator, and workshop. It was designed to complement the brick pumping station. Administration offices, a bathroom, and large open store area were accommodated in

6554-402: The height required. The aerial ropeway was used until 1931, when the east bank trestle was damaged by a flood. In 1919, a hall was opened. Situated up the hill from the chief engineers' house, it became the social centre for the Mount Crosby community. Events such as balls, community meetings, church services and fundraising evenings were well-attended by the small Mount Crosby community. In 2019

6667-503: The householders to add wood ashes or alum to their water barrels to precipitate the yellow sediments. On establishment of the Brisbane Municipal Council in 1859, one of their first tasks was to plan a better water supply for the growing town. The Brisbane Waterworks Act 1863 was introduced to alleviate this problem. The legislation enabled the Brisbane Municipal Council to construct reservoirs, supply water to

6780-419: The late 1950s to the 1970s extensive landscaping and garden improvements were carried out. In the 1970s, the ornamental front fountain was installed. A stepped retaining wall facing the river was also constructed at this time, and a disused pumping station building from Lake Manchester was re-erected on the southern hill above the station. The 15 tonne crane in the engine house was relocated to this building. Since

6893-493: The low-level reservoir. The bins were filled with gravel needed for concrete making, sand for the filtration systems and many other necessary materials, "with the delivery of the materials for a ropeway tramway passing over the hills switchback fashion, and connecting Holt's hill with the gravel pits, a system which would accelerate construction work at the purification works". The ropes were suspended by timber trestles (up to 11.5m high) or steel trestles (up to 27m high), depending on

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7006-464: The machinery had been attached to the engine house walls. Problems with the casting in one of the wells also caused damage to one of the pumps. After initial issues were quickly rectified, in June 1893 it was reported that "those dependent on the water supply at Brisbane will be glad to know that the machinery at Mount Crosby is at length working smoothly, and that a constant and reliable stream of good water

7119-400: The machinery's installation. May was also responsible for running the machines for six months following the start of operations. The installation of the pumping equipment did not go as smoothly as hoped. Excessive vibrations threatened to damage both the equipment and the pump house. Initially the vibrations were thought to be caused by the machinery itself, but turned out to be caused by the way

7232-500: The new equipment. The new pumps were operational by 1916. The inefficient coal transportation system was also rectified at this time when approval was given by the Board for the construction of a tramway from the Tivoli railway station to the Mount Crosby pumping station. The new line was to be maintained and worked by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board. Work on the 7km tramway had been completed by December 1913 at

7345-438: The older three. Three wells (the original Wells C, D, and E) were converted into dry wells and widened to accommodate the new engines, reshaping them from circular to oval. One of the original wells (originally Well B) was converted into a lift well and retained. With the expansion of the wells, the engine house required extension northwards and eastwards resulting in a larger floorplate. A new 15 tonne hand-operated travelling crane

7458-416: The operator standing at this desk knows exactly what is happening in all parts of the station. In 1953, the generator room and condenser room, located in the 1920s building, were refitted as an electrical workshop. With the new capacity, a new intake was constructed in 1957, beside the 1920s intake tower. In 1958, the towering brick chimney was demolished and the resultant space in the façade bricked up to make

7571-412: The other hand, are engineered to handle sewage, with designs that ensure reliability and safety, minimizing environmental impacts from overflows. Innovations in pump technology and station design have led to the development of submersible pump stations, which are more compact and safer, effectively reducing the footprint and visibility of sewage management infrastructure. Electronic controllers have enhanced

7684-540: The passing of the Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885 , which legislated the size of housing allotments to prevent an increase in slum conditions, in crowded, inner-city Brisbane suburbs such as Spring Hill and Petrie Terrace , duplexes and terrace houses were rarely constructed in Queensland after 1885. As all the land on which the duplexes were built was owned by the board, allotment sizes did not need to be considered. For such an important plant it

7797-571: The pipes and connections between components. The development of a packaged pump station system combined all components into a single housing which not only eliminates uneven settling issues, but pre-plumbing and outfitting each unit prior to installation can reduce the cost and time involved with civil work and site labor. Water pumping stations are differentiated from wastewater pumping stations in that they do not have to be sized to account for high peak flow rates. They have five general categories: Water pumping stations are constructed in areas in which

7910-479: The pump house and retiring the dry well by either stripping it, or knocking down the internal partition and merging it with the wet well. Pump manufacturers have always designed and manufactured electronic devices to control and supervise pumping stations. Today it is also very common to use a programmable logic controller (PLC) or Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) for such work, but the experience needed to solve certain particular problems, makes an easy choice to look for

8023-400: The pumping station and 150m north of the original intake. The design included the construction of a concrete tower on the eastern bank of the river that would hold the associated equipment and strainer wells. From the intake tower, a 1.8m wide underground tunnel would convey the water to the station, where it was distributed to the various pumping engines. The new intake was completed by 1926 and

8136-485: The pumping station at this time. Much of the equipment was deemed to be inefficient and tenders were called for its upgrading, "the proposed new pumping plant was of three units, each capable of delivering 6,000,000 gallons [27,000,000 litres] of water from the Brisbane River in 24 hours". The accepted tender (albeit the sole tender) was Victorian company, Thompson and Co., with a total cost of £107, 641 for equipment and installation. Three vertical steam engines were to replace

8249-409: The pumping station or out to the high-level reservoir. The drayman's cottage, located closest to the pumping station and on the southern side of Stumers Road, was also complete by this time. In November 1892, The Telegraph reported: Over a dozen very comfortable looking houses have been erected on the slope of the hill at the bottom of which is the pumping station. The second and third engineers occupy

8362-415: The pumping station. In 1893 this bridge became a casualty of the flood. The coal then had to be transported across the river in punts, a costly and inefficient venture. In December 1893 the Board of Waterworks accepted a tender from Chamberlain and Wylie for the construction of a new bridge to be built over the river at the actual station. The bridge was completed in 1894. Two years later, it was washed away by

8475-418: The rear of the building". Work progressed swiftly, and by December 1892 it was reported that the main brick buildings were complete, including the tall engine house, one-storey boiler house, and a 31.6m high chimney. All the bricks were locally made. There was also a timber coal shed, an office/operations room, and a timber weighbridge adjacent to the boiler house. The steam-driven pumping machinery installed in

8588-429: The relatively remote location, fostered a close-knit and social community of workers and their families. The Mount Crosby pumping station complex is located 24km southwest of Brisbane's CBD . There is a single lane bridge over the Mount Crosby Weir enabling easy access across the Brisbane River; it is a public road. Established in 1892 by the Brisbane Board of Waterworks as a means of providing Brisbane residents with

8701-561: The respective state government department . The headquarters for each government department are located in the capital city of Brisbane , with most government departments based at 1 William Street , a purpose-built skyscraper in Brisbane CBD . Queensland is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system , a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with

8814-420: The river and over the rugged hills, ultimately landing at the apex of the hill at the water treatment plant. The aerial ropeway was powered by a steam engine installed on the west bank and situated slightly further downstream from the weighbridge; the loading station was located here as well. Operational by 1915, the ropeway hauled substantial iron bins to and from the treatment plant's base, with an interim stop at

8927-399: The river prevented this. As an alternative, electric winches were installed on each side of the river to haul the wagons across the bridge to the station. The tramway was continuously used until 1945 when trucks replaced it. The construction of the water treatment plant on Holt's Hill was difficult, due to Mount Crosby's steep terrain. An aerial ropeway was installed from the west bank, across

9040-430: The river. Chief Engineer, J Stewart, initially took steps to alleviate this by sending men upstream to dig channels to release water. Further emergency measures were taken when a sandbag and clay weir was built just below the 1892 intake. A permanent solution was approved by the board in 1902 and a 3m high, concrete weir was constructed 700m downstream from the original intake. The quality of the water delivered to Brisbane

9153-418: The sewage in the wet well, dry wells are underground, confined spaces and require appropriate precautions for entry. Further, any failure or leakage of the pumps or pipework can discharge sewage directly into the dry well with complete flooding not an uncommon occurrence. As a result, the electric motors are normally mounted above the overflow, top water level of the wet well, usually above ground level, and drive

9266-403: The sewage pumps through an extended vertical shaft. To protect the above ground motors from weather, small pump houses are normally built, which also incorporate the electrical switchgear and control electronics. These are the visible parts of a traditional sewage pumping station although they are typically smaller than the underground wet and dry wells. More modern pumping stations do not require

9379-401: The site. In 1893, a state school, located several hundred meters away from the pumping station, along Stumers Road, replaced a smaller 1882 provisional school, providing education to employees' children. In the early 1900s, Queensland experienced a severe drought that caused the Mount Crosby section of the Brisbane River to become a series of waterholes and almost ceased the flow of water down

9492-416: The southern side of Stumers Road. One year later the remainder of the housing had been completed. Situated down the hill from the two engineers' houses, were the four fireman's duplexes, also on the south side of Stumers Road. Unusually for the time, the duplexes were not placed uniformly, facing a road, or within a grid layout, instead they followed the contours of the hill, each with a different outlook toward

9605-489: The station began in the late 1940s, with the plant's complete conversion to electricity. A sub-station was constructed south of the engine house through which the City Electric Light Company supplied the plant. A central control room was installed on the first floor of the engine house annexe. From the control room a door was cut into the engine house wall, and a steel mezzanine deck was built, on which

9718-476: The station from Ipswich and Brisbane. Employee housing was a major requirement for the Board of Waterworks. When work began on construction, accommodation for up to 80 men was required and tents were erected on the slopes surrounding the construction works. "Dotting the hillside at every eligible spot, lies the calico township of Mount Crosby, in the midst of which the great brick chimney stack...rears its lofty head". Temporary structures were also built for offices and

9831-417: The station, was forced through a pipeline up the steep incline to the reservoir, initially known as the high-level reservoir, where the water was gravity fed down a series of pipelines to Brisbane. The pumping machinery, being of the latest technology, was difficult to correctly install. To assist with this, as per the contract, in 1892 Easton and Anderson sent a company representative, Charles May, to supervise

9944-485: The town and to charge for services, but allowed the Queensland Government to influence decisions with the establishment of a Board of Waterworks. The Enoggera Dam was completed in 1866 and provided reticulated water to the town, and in 1871 the first of Spring Hill's Service Reservoirs the supply of water to Brisbane residents. Further improvements to the water supply were made with the construction of

10057-480: The traditional land of the Yuggera Ugarapul people. John Oxley first sailed up the Brisbane River in the early 1820s and named the area now known as Mount Crosby, Belle Vue . It was not until the mid-late 1850s that land at Mount Crosby began to be settled, with small farms emerging, and by the 1870s the majority of the land at Mount Crosby had been selected. Ipswich , the closest regional town, became

10170-558: The upper parts of the canal, but if no suitable source is available, a pumping station can be used to maintain the water level. An example of a canal pumping station is the Claverton Pumping Station on the Kennet and Avon Canal in southern England, United Kingdom. This pumps water from the nearby River Avon to the canal using pumps driven by a waterwheel which is powered by the river. Where no external water supply

10283-505: The upper reaches began to notice the depleted stock, and farmers were concerned with the higher numbers of leeches , previously controlled by the mullet as a food source, affecting the cattle. Heavily depleted mullet stock was likewise identified by the coastal fishing industry. Concern was raised by the Esk Shire Council , Kilcoy Shire Council , and Crows Nest Shire Council . In September 1940, agreement had been reached between

10396-402: The use of the original one ceased. As part of these improvements, a new weir was constructed across the river between the 1899 bridge and the intake tower. The new weir incorporated a vehicle overbridge with a tramway to replace the older bridge. Electric haulage of the coal wagons was continued across the new overbridge, with the haulage winch shifted to the north on the west bank. The design of

10509-415: The water up the hill to a reservoir, where it could be stored before being gravity-fed through a large pipeline to Brisbane. It was reported in 1891 that "only about twelve months have elapsed since the first workman struck his pick into the side of the hill to form the site for the buildings, and now the completion of the works is close at hand". The contractor awarded the construction of the pumping station

10622-412: The water upwards into water channels that finally drain into the sea. The Victorians understood this concept, and in the United Kingdom they built pumping stations with water pumps , powered by steam engines to accomplish this task. In Lincolnshire, large areas of wetland at sea level, called The Fens , were turned into rich arable farmland by this method. The land is full of nutrients because of

10735-431: The way the system of canal locks work, water is lost from the upper part of a canal each time a vessel passes through. Also, most lock gates are not watertight, so some water leaks from the higher levels of the canal to those lower down. The water has to be replaced or eventually the upper levels of the canal would not hold enough water to be navigable. Canals are usually fed by diverting water from streams and rivers into

10848-442: The weir allowed floodwaters to flow through concrete pillars and, theoretically, spare the overbridge from damage. Plans were approved in 1921 and the work was completed in 1925. In February 1927, major flooding damaged the new weir and all but destroyed the 1899 bridge, with one report saying "the main course of the Brisbane River has been altered by a huge washaway that carried away in the flood many thousands of tons of earth, tearing

10961-438: The well (for example during peak flow periods and wet weather) additional pumps will be used. If this is insufficient, or in the case of failure of the pumping station, a backup in the sewer system can occur, leading to a sanitary sewer overflow —the discharge of raw sewage into the environment. Sewage pumping stations are typically designed so that one pump or one set of pumps will handle normal peak flow conditions. Redundancy

11074-447: The well and the turbo-alternator converted to power the new engines. A small fan house to hold a centrifugal fan used to cool the engines was erected beside the extension. An unforeseen issue arose following the completion of the weir, as mullet stock, once plentiful in the upper reaches of the Brisbane River, began to wane. The weir blocked their passage upstream, following spawning season when they had travelled downstream. Anglers on

11187-404: The wet well. Traditional sewage pumping stations incorporate both a wet well and a "dry well". Often these are the same structure separated by an internal divide. In this configuration pumps are installed below ground level on the base of the dry well so that their inlets are below water level on pump start, priming the pump and also maximising the available NPSH . Although nominally isolated from

11300-400: The whole installation is represented diagrammatically, the electrical supply system and the motors and pumps and valves, and in this diagram miniature switches are incorporated. These switches control the whole of the operation, and from this point the operator can start and stop pumps or operate as he wills. Coloured lights, green, yellow and red, tell a constant story of the plant operation, so

11413-433: Was Chamberlain & Wylie, with work commencing on the 1 August 1890. The Board appointed Joseph Stewart as Chief Engineer of the works; he would serve in this position until his death in 1919. A dedication plaque was erected at the entrance to the engine house at the time of his death commemorating Stewart's service at Mount Crosby. At the commencement of the work, Queensland was experiencing high levels of unemployment and it

11526-418: Was brick and the western wall featured open arches, which provided access from the detached coal store built at the western side of the boiler house. The design of the boiler house provided space for 13 boilers, although only 8 were installed. When working, the coal-fired boilers produced the steam that powered the pumping machines within the engine house. Water, drawn from the river at an intake constructed below

11639-607: Was completed in 1928. The Brisbane City Council took over the Mount Crosby pumping station in 1928, following the dissolution of the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. It was then administered by the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage. In 1938, a three-storey extension was made to the engine house annexe to house a new circular well, Well G. Two centrifugal pumps , capable of delivering 22.7 million litres of water per day, were installed in

11752-494: Was crucial, and in 1942, three anti-aircraft guns were placed strategically at high points around the station and a small military camp was set up between the pumping station and the low-level reservoir. At the same time, the water mains between Ipswich and Mount Crosby were patrolled. Windows on the northern and eastern facades of the pumping station were bricked-in. By 1943, the perceived threat had abated and all military installations removed. Another era of considerable change at

11865-532: Was estimated that more than 80 men were to be employed in the waterworks' construction. As initial work progressed well, in April 1891 the ceremony of laying the foundation stone was attended by numerous dignitaries, including the Colonial Secretary, Hon. Horace Tozer MLA, and "the stone being ready, and a raised platform having been erected for those present, the stone was laid on the left hand corner at

11978-499: Was formed in 1859 when Queensland separated from New South Wales under the state constitution . Since federation in 1901, Queensland has been a state of Australia , with the Constitution of Australia regulating its relationship with the federal government . Queensland's system of government is influenced by the Westminster system and Australia's federal system of government . Executive acts are given legal force through

12091-473: Was held on the 30 March 1951, and was attended by dignitaries including the Queensland Premier , Ned Hanlon , and Brisbane Lord Mayor , John Beals Chandler . Prior to electrification, each shift at the station had required 20 men, but with the new technology, only two men were needed. The control room became the centre for the plant and was described at the time: Here, on a large curved desk top,

12204-461: Was imperative to have the majority of staff on hand. When first complete, the pumps were worked for up to 16 hours a day in two shifts, requiring constant attendance at the station, in particular the firemen, whose job it was to stoke the boilers with coal. The chief engineer's role was essential to the running of not only the station, but also the high-level reservoir and the main lines to Brisbane. Clear lines of communication to Waterworks' offices in

12317-411: Was installed to service the expanded building and electric lighting was also installed in the engine house at this time. Four of the original boilers were replaced with more efficient Babcock & Wilcox boilers ; this required a higher roof on the boiler house. On the east side of the boiler house was built a brick economiser house, adjacent to the chimney to accommodate economiser flues, components of

12430-419: Was not unusual in the late 19th century and into the 20th for a company to provide housing for their workers if situated in an isolated location, as Mount Crosby was. For the workers at the Mount Crosby pumping station a substantial brick chief engineer's residence, two timber houses for the second and third engineers, four timber duplexes to house eight firemen and their families, and a small timber cottage for

12543-494: Was often criticised, as it was frequently turbid and odorous. These concerns were voiced by the Central Board of Health who believed the water was not fit for human consumption. Following several reports undertaken by Sydney and American hydraulic engineers and bacteriologists, it was recommended that a plant be constructed to purify the water before its distribution. In 1910, the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board replaced

12656-399: Was retained. In 1925, a three-storey annexe was constructed, projecting from the rear of the engine house to house a turbo-alternator , used to generate electricity to the pumps at Lake Manchester , several kilometres away. The upper floors became electrical workshops, accessed by an external staircase. The boiler house was extended to the north and a higher roof was added over this section;

12769-484: Was the case prior to electrification. Each pump was capable of pumping 49 million litres of water each day. With well G also in operation, the pumping station had the capacity to pump 365 million litres per day. The plant was fully electrified by 1951 at a cost of £287,000, with the Queensland Government contributing £57,400 and Brisbane City Council covering the remainder. The official opening ceremony

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