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1871 Farmers making
tanks to catch water, no wells having been sunk
1879 February - SCARCITY
OF WATER. To the editor- Sir -Through the medium of your valuable paper
I wish, with your permission, to say a few words in reference to the at
present great scarcity of water in the Dublin Area. The evil with which
the selector has to grapple is a great one, and if rain does not soon
fall the farmers will be prevented from putting in their seed, nearly
everyone being engaged in carting water. for their stock for a distance,
in some instances, of twelve miles, which keeps them occupied all the
week round. Now I think that a great in justice is done the selector -
by the Government in not sinking-dams and waterholes in suitable places.
1880 The Government
dam is drawing towards completion
1881 Residents think
there should be someone in charge of Government Dam so that the drains
might be looked after and water caught when it rains
1882 A number of residents
of Dublin, were introduced to the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Hon. A.
Catt) on Wednesday morning, by Messrs. W. Gilbert, M.P., and J. H. Bagster
M.P. The deputation brought under the notice of the Commissioner the Government
dam at Dublin, which it was stated was almost useless from two causes—
the first being that the pump (a No.6 Douglas) was not powerful enough
to draw the water from the dam, which had very little in it; as although
there was a very good fall the water was prevented running into the dam
by the grass and weeds. this state of things could be remedied by sinking
a well just outside the dam and erecting a pipe to carry the water, or
else by digging a scoop and a number of leaders to take the water off.
Mr. Catt, in reply, said that he would have a report prepared on the matter
of the pump, and as there were no drains they would at once be cut, especially
if, as the deputation had stated, the dam could then be leased to any
person who chose.
1883 Water supply clerk
to get pump put in thorough repair at District well and a reward to offered
for information convicting any person injuring the same.
The Government have settled the little difficulty about the Government
dam. For some time, past the drains leading to the dam have been found
insufficient for conveying the water, but a Government Surveyor has recently
been here and let the necessary work by contract. The dam at present is
about a quarter full
October - The contract
for clearing drains to the Government dam is completed, and the contractor,
Mr. J. Webb, has made a first-class job of it.
Sixteen reservoirs have been deepened or otherwise repaired and fenced
or fitted with the necessary appliances at the following places: —
Hundreds of Kulpara, Coonatto, Erskine, Wonna, Mundoora, Tickera, Bundey,
Minburra, Lindley, Dublin, Schomburgk, Yalpara, and Cavenagh, at a cost
of £1,613 Is., the present capacity of the reservoirs being 13,403,000gallons.
Wells are now being bored in the hundreds of Willowie, Dublin, Palmer,
Barunga, and Boolcunda. The total expenditure on all works within hundreds
during the year ending on June 30, 1SS3, has been £22,339 12s. 6d.
inclusive of cost of transport. Borings are in progress at Dublin, New,
247 feet;
1884 J. H. Hurst to have charge of the Government dam Dublin.
1885 February - The
well borers are still in the township working away, and it is to be hoped
they will get good water before the Government dam runs dry. There are
a good many carting water now, and there will soon be more. The bore at
the Government reserve is a good thing, and many are carting from there
now, but the drawback is that, the supply is bad.
March - A deputation,
consisting of the members for the district of Yatala, Messrs. W. Gilbert
and J. H. Bagster, and Messrs. Tench and West, waited on the Commissioner
of Crown Lands on Wednesday to ask that the necessary apparatus for raising
water at the Dublin tube well should be erected without delay. It was
suggested that a Halliday windmill and elevated tanks would be extremely
convenient, as by this means the residents would be able to get a good
supply of water without delay in the case of a water famine. The Conservator
of Water, who was present at the request of the Commissioner, pointed
out that there was a possibility of a windmill being brought to a standstill
when most wanted, 'and said he would recommend that a McComas water lifter
should be erected. The well had proved to be a very great success, and
as the water was of good quality he had no doubt there would be a great
deal of it used.
DUBLIN. February 28
1885
Our Government well-boring party in charge of Mr. Otto Sampson have succeeded
in giving us a splendid supply of water, and I can say that without doubt
it is one of the finest stock wells in the colony. They had the steam
pump at work without a stoppage for 48 hours, and the supply did not diminish
in the least. Mr. O. Sampson, who has charge of the party, and Mr. C.
Anthoney, the engineer, with the rest of the party, have made themselves
very much liked in the district by their genial manner, and I am sure
that when they leave this township, they will take with them the good
wishes of everyone. The splendid supply of water will make Dublin the
favourite route for stock travelling to and from the north instead of
Mallala, which up till now has been the route
September - On Thursday morning Messrs. Gilbert and Bagster, members for
Yatala, with a deputation of residents in the District of Dublin, waited
on the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Hon. J. H. Howe) with reference to
the appliances at the Government Well, Dublin. Mr. Gilbert, in introducing
the deputation, said there was a pump at the well, which was not sufficient
for the requirements of the district. It was stated by members of the
deputation that the late Commissioner of Crown Lands had promised a deputation
about five months ago to have the necessary works carried out. He had
in the meantime sent up a pump which still remained. The summer was now
approaching, and at present it appeared that water would be wanted more
than at any previous time. The supply is unlimited and only wanted the
necessary appliances to fully meet the wants of the district. The well
which was an artesian one, had been put down on the guarantee system. |
1886
March - Mr. A. Felters appointed caretaker of Dublin Well.
September – Dublin Council Clerk to have pump at Dublin well repaired
1887 February –
Dublin Council agreed to lease Dublin Well for another 12 months.
1888 April –
Dublin Council approved of chairman's action in ordering new pump for
Dublin well.
May - Messrs. Bagster and Gilbert to be asked to wait on Commissioner
of Crown Lands, and ask that Dublin well be handed over to council.
December - Council considered working of Dublin well, it being shown that
there was serious deficiency each year; it was decided to increase charges
for water to Is. 3d. per 400 gallons, Id. per head for cattle, and 4d,
per head per week for residents' cattle; 3s. 6d. per thousand for sheep,
and Government prices for all travelling stock, Mr. R. Carrier was appointed
caretaker of well and collector of water rates.
1889 March - Government
offered to reduce rent of Dublin well to £20 yearly
1894 March - PRESENT
AND PROSPECTIVE WELLS AND ARTESIAN BORES.
The importance of wells and artesian bores as first aids to development
has long been recognised, and various efforts have been put forward by
Water Conversation Department to provide a supply of water on stock routes
and at various centres. What has been done and what is now being done
we are now able to set out. In the following we first give the locality,
then the depth of the well, and the remarks refer to the quality of the
water: — Dublin Township, 212, good; Windsor Township, 392, stock.
1902 August - BAROSSA
WATER SUPPLY.
A meeting convened by the chairman of the District Council of Grace (Mr.
D. Wilson) was held at Mallala on Saturday to consider the advisableness
of asking the Government to extend the reticulation from the Barossa waterworks
to that locality.
C. Lindsay said he had been located on the boundary of Dublin and Grace
for33 years, and had carted water for 20 years. In. one week he. carted
6,000 gallons of water four miles. He very strongly advocated the reticulation
of the area. The rate of 4d per acre was nothing compared with the trouble
and expense of water carting.
September - BAROSSA
WATER SUPPLY. Dublin, August 4.
At the Dublin institute on Saturday evening a meeting was held for the
purpose of discussing the water supply question. The chair was occupied
by the chairman of the Dublin District Council (Mr. L. White), who convened
the meeting in response to a requisition. Mr. E.H. Coombe, M.P., was present,
and contributed information as to the conditions which the Government
had laid down in connection with the reticulation of the district with
water from Barossa. A plan was also exhibited by Mr. Coombe, showing the
contemplated routes for mains in the district. One main would go to Shannon
from Mallala, but up to the present Dublin was excluded. A number of questions
having been answered by Mr. Coombe, Mr. W. Prime proposed That the Government
be requested to arrange for this district to be reticulated with water
from Barossa. Mr. G. Long seconded the motion, which was lost by 15 votes
to 11. Reference was made to the fact that several persons were present
from Wild Horse Plains, who were opposed to the water going through there,
although they did not wish to prevent the Dublin people from obtaining
it. It was suggested by Mr. Coombe that if those in the neighbourhood
of Dublin desired to have the water, they could probably secure it by
obtaining the signatures of owners and occupiers of land, between Dublin
and Mallala, and petition forms were taken for that purpose.
October - BAROSSA WATERWORKS
BILL.
The hundreds which would be supplied with water by these mains are Mudla
Wirra, Grace, Port Gawler, and Dublin; and the townships to reached are
Wasleys, Templars, Hamley Bridge, and Mallala, and also the neighbourhood
of Two Wells; and by utilizing the railway pipes already laid in Roseworthy
could be supplied with water as soon as a new main is laid through Gawler.
The reticulation of townships always affords a good return on the cost
of sub reticulation,
1904 October
The pipe carters are busy carting pipes for the Barossa water track, from
Mallala to Dublin
1906 November Opposition
Effectually Silenced. —
Actual experience of the benefits of the scheme has effectually silenced
opposition. The farmers. as a body, were not strong advocates of the project;
indeed, most of them were opposed to it. They were afraid of the cost,
and doubtful of the effectiveness of the undertaking. Even after the headworks
were finished and reticulation had begun some of them opposed being brought
within the influence of the mains. At Dublin. for instance, a motion for
the introduction of the water was defeated by an adverse amendment. One
settler in that neighbourhood declared that if the water were brought,
he would sellout and go elsewhere. Today the township of Dublin shares
the blessings of the Barossa system, and the individual who threatened
to leave has his farm supplied with the precious fluid, and is more prosperous
than ever before! Many who held aloof at first, and were glad to see the
principal mains going in other directions because their neighbours were
wiser than they, are now anxious to be supplied, and it will be two or
three years before some of the requisitions being received can be complied
with.
Dublin was now on mains water
1914
Windmill sold to Mr H Driscoll for £2, prior to this Andrew Driscoll
had scaled the windmill structure to remove head which had become unsafe.
Later that year Mr Driscoll was paid to fill in the well.
Over time the dam was
used by the local children for raft fun when full or go-carting in the
drier months. It would eventually be filled in with rubbish and now just
earthworks show the evidence of its existence |
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