District settlement shaped by water needs

THE first roads through the Wingecarribee district shaped the pattern of settlement, as told in previous articles. Where the first settlements and fledgling villages were located, however, was very much influenced by the availability of fresh water - thus also shaping the district. This article starts an occasional series on the history of local water supply systems - no dry topic, as at times near disasters threatened and “water wars’”were waged between towns.

THE CLEAR, open country around the Wingecarribee River attracted early settlement along the river bank because water had to be carted to where it was required as, at first, there were no storage tanks or wells for the convenience of settlers and travellers.

The site of Bong Bong was chosen as the first government town in 1820 as it was on the river bank, with water being plentiful - in fact, too much so, as the road often became impassable when the river flooded and eventually the township was moved to higher ground at Berrima.

However, it was Sutton Forest that grew as the most populous village in the 1820s. Not being on a river, it was flood-free, yet was near the Medway Rivulet and other streams that provided a constant supply of water for households and for growing vegetables, fruit trees and crops. Landowners saw the potential and established estates on the slopes of Mt Gingenbullen, such as Oldbury, and many smaller grants were taken up.

Even so, water could be very scarce during dry weather; and then farmers had to cart it for domestic and stock purposes.

In the early years, water diviners looked for water and wells were dug in clay and shale sub-soils.

Small water holes were furnished with an assortment of pumping equipment such as windmills, hand pumps, windlass, rams, or even siphons to feed the water to storage or use.

Even then it was difficult for farmers, as once dams were built and used solely for stock they became fouled round the edges so had to be fenced and the water run into troughs.

Families also would be very careful in the use of water; once-a-week baths were quite an event (in a big tub in front of the open fire) and of course there were no flush toilets or hot showers.

The Great Southern Road opened through Berrima in the 1830s and by the 1860s settlement had grown considerably at New Sheffield and Nattai (now Mittagong) and at Berrima. Once substantial buildings were established, guttering fed rainwater into storage tanks and, along with many wells and pumps, this allowed for a sufficient supply of water for the growing population, except in years of drought.

However, as major industries became established in the district, the need for a reticulated (networked) water supply led to town schemes being drawn up and established - firstly at Mittagong.

Mittagong’s early water supply

The setting up of the Fitzroy Iron Works in 1848 at Mittagong brought an influx of new residents, resulting in the sub-division of New Sheffield village in 1864 and a further sub-division of Mittagong township in 1884. Mittagong Municipal Council was formed in 1889 and census figures for 1901 show a population of 1355 residents inhabiting 220 dwellings.

The growth of business, industry and population placed a heavy burden on the Nattai River, the town’s main water supply.

This became critical when the Great Southern Railway opened through the district in the late 1860s, as steam locomotives required water and tanks had to be regularly replenished.

The railway’s water requirements at Mittagong were supplied by a dam built in 1867 on the Nattai River at a site that is now the swimming pool.

Then in 1883 the Fresh Food & Ice Company’s butter and milk factory began drawing water from the Nattai further upstream.

In 1899 the Mittagong Maltings was established and, as it required plentiful water for germinating barley grain, a reservoir was constructed on the Nattai nearby.

Although called Nattai River, in places it is little more than a creek and it became a constant worry to the industries depending on it. The severe drought of 1901-02 saw them and the residents battling to survive on shrinking water reserves.

Plans had been drawn up in 1899 for a residential water supply and, once industry approaches were made to the council requesting a reticulated water system, the plans were revised in 1902 with estimates for a larger scale operation.

• To be continued next week

This article is sourced from the archives of Berrima District Historical & Family History Society, Bowral Rd, Mittagong. Contribution of information and old photographs welcome. Email bdhsarchives@gmail.com; call 4872 2169. Website: berrimadistricthistoricalsociety.org.au

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