Opened in 1891, the bridge formed part of the Maroondah Aqueduct carrying water from Watts River near Healesville to the reservoir at Preston where it joined Melbourne's metropolitan water system. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p99 Built to supply thirsty Melbourne in the late 19th century, the siphon bridge spanning the Plenty River off Leischa Court, Greensborough, was part of an engineering masterpiece. Opened in 1891, the bridge formed part of the Maroondah Aqueduct carrying water from the Watts River near Healesville to the reservoir at Preston where it joined the metropolitan distribution system. A major link in Melbourne’s water supply, it also had a huge impact on communities, which mushroomed along its route. Named after the Aboriginal word for the area around the Maroondah Reservoir, the Maroondah Aqueduct was fully operational until the 1970s. Since the 1980s the land along parts of the aqueduct have been used for walking and bicycle riding, shaded in places by Monterey Pine trees planted to stabilise the surrounding ground. From 1857 the Yan Yean Reservoir supplied Melbourne’s water but the growing city needed additional catchments.1 In 1886 work began on a weir on the Watts River to enable the aqueduct to carry most of the river water 41 miles (66km) to Melbourne. The aqueduct, built by the Board of Works, is the oldest remaining aqueduct near Melbourne and was probably the first built with concrete.2 Although the aqueduct is now only used between the Maroondah and Sugarloaf Reservoirs, it can still be traced across the Shire. It extends from the Maroondah Reservoir through Christmas Hills, Kangaroo Ground, Research, Eltham, St Helena and then previously wound west through Greensborough to Reservoir.3 Built by horse and manpower the aqueduct gravity fed 25 million gallons (113.6ML) of water a day to Melbourne along a gradient of one foot to the mile. It included 25 miles (41km) of open concrete and brick channel, six miles (10km) of tunnels, and nine miles (15km) of 14 inverted siphons of riveted wrought-iron across creeks. Bricks for the aqueduct were made from clay found near the sites and remains of several kilns can still be found between Kangaroo Ground and Christmas Hills. Building the aqueduct transformed local communities. An abattoir was established at Christmas Hills. Grog shanties and labourers’ camps sprang up and local courts dealt with cases of ‘petty pilfering and boisterous behaviour’.4 The Kangaroo Ground school population jumped to 91, crammed into a room with one teacher. Miners who built the tunnels camped just north of Churinga in Greensborough – then called Tunnel Hill Camp – and adjacent to the Evelyn Arms Hotel. The miners’ high spirits were sometimes quenched in horse troughs or by a ‘welt under the ear and kick on the behind’ as the local constable calmed them down rather than lock them up.5 But the growing city of Melbourne needed more water, so the O’Shannassy catchment, east of Warburton, was added to the system in 1914. In 1920 work began on the present concrete Maroondah Dam one mile (1.6km) from the weir on the Watts River. The aqueduct capacity was thus doubled to 50 million gallons (227ML) a day.6 Intense land development threatened to pollute the open water supply, so channel sections were replaced with large pipes. In the late 1960s a large water main was built from the tunnel outlet at Research and extended through St Helena and Greensborough, so this section of the aqueduct was taken out of use. Long sections of the unused open channels in Greensborough and Bundoora were destroyed, but the old channel in Research and Eltham North remained largely intact. In the 1970s, the Sugarloaf Reservoir was constructed, inundating 445 hectares of land in Christmas Hills. Sugarloaf was officially opened in 1980 and serves as a water storage and treatment plant supplying Melbourne. In the early 1980s pipes replaced the section from Sugarloaf Reservoir to the tunnel entrance at Kangaroo Ground. The Research-Kangaroo Ground tunnel operates as part of the pipeline system.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, maroondah aqueduct, pipe bridge, siphon bridge

Set of nine photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheets of the "Preston Workshops" - c1939 .1 - P8491 - Plan of land showing layout and associated drawings including Reservoir railway line - 19-4-1939. .2 - P8492 - Plan of Timber stacks and Hall - 3-2-1939 .3 - P8493 - Plan of Offices and location of sub-station - 13-12-1938 .4 - P8494 - Plan of Store including Oil store - c1939. .5 - P8495 - Plan of Paint Shop and relationship to timber stack - 1-3-1939 .6 - P8496 - Plan of Car building and Repairs shop - 6-12-1938 .7 - P8497 - Plan of machine shop - 10-12-1938 .8 - P8500 - Plan of Blacksmiths shop - 1-12-1938 .9 - P8590 - Plan of Substation - 1-12-1938trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, preston workshops, workshops, substation

Newspaper Clipping - set of four clippings adhered to two sides of two sheets of ruled quarto paper with punched holes on the left hand side - from newspapers about the removal of trams from Melbourne 1 - Part one of a Large article written by John Messer of The Age, titled "City that went off the rails" about the impact of the closure of the Brisbane tramway system, quotes Brisbane City Mayor - Clem Jones. Dated 7/5/1969 2 - Second part "Is it time to get rid of Trams", dated 8/5/1969 following the closure of the Brisbane system. Mainly quotes from Brisbane transport officials with some Sydney officials. Has photos of a tram in Swanston St and a crowded tram. 3 - "Willy-nilly scrapping of trams 'nonsense'" - written by F. R. Kirby - Acting Chairman of the MMTB - The Age" responding to John Messer's articles. The Age 20/5/1969. 4 - letter from Bernard Boles of Reservoir about the removal of trams in Collins St and replacement by buses. 5 - "Hour fight to free trapped driver" - The Age 19/5/1969 - about the collision of a panel van at corner of High and Chapel St Prahran 6 - Set of two Letters from Edward Sykes and V. Lovel about the removal of trams - for and against.trams, tramways, brisbane trams, sydney trams, closure, tram replacement, buses, collins st, accidents, letter to the editor

Allan Yoemans was a tramway employee at Preston depot. Receipts contained within the Benson and Hedges tin of the early 1950s noting it is by appointment to HM King George V are: 1 - Receipt for a ladies cycle - 9 pounds - dated 2/11/1957 2 - MMTB clothing docket for a coat - size 6 3 - Receipt on MMTB letterhead and docket - payment of Tramway Benefit Society subscription - dated 3/12/1956 - received at Preston Revenue office 4 - Receipt for 170 pounds - payment for a Chev sedan car with a Victorian 3d duty stamp, dated 13-4-53 5 - Receipt for payment of 4/6, Ezyart Co of Reservoir showing a balance of 1pound and 10 shillings - hire purchase? - dated 21/9/1950 6 - Receipt from Bruce Small Pty Ltd for payment of 15 pounds, a/c Bicycle finance - with a Victorian 2d duty stamp, dated 8/4/1952 7 - Interim receipt for 5 pounds from the Lalor Consumer Co-op dated 26-9-1950 At the time Mr Yoemans lived in Gratwick St Lalor.Shows business practices of the early 1950s and the way payments such as hire purchase could be made and receipted, including payments to the Tramway Benefit Society.Metal tin or cigarette container - red for 20 Benson & Hedges cigarettes containing 7 paper receipts or dockets.tramway benefit society, tbs, receipts, financial records, tramway employee

Two copies of newspaper articles titled ''The Past Comes Alive on 'The Hill'' from the Bendigo Advertiser dated 3/7/1971. Some history, a guided tour by two busloads of students and some plans are mentioned in the article. There are also two photos in the article. In one photo three Rotarians of Bendigo South, Mr. Vic Wodetski, Mr. Jack Bright and Mr. A. E. Richardson are inspecting some of the concentric rings of iron oxide and the quartz spur running through the centre of the outcrop on Victoria Hill. In the other photo Mr. jack Bright is looking at the natural curves of colour in the stone of Victoria Hill.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, victoria hill, victoria hill newspaper article, central deborah, victoria hill open cut, joss house, bendigo potteries, mr a e richardson, bendigo historical society, mr j hattam, reservoir high school, mr w j derham, rotary club of bendigo south, bendigo and district tourist association, victoria quartz mine, george lansell's big 180, theodore ballerstedt, goldmines hotel

Perforated pro-forma call-up card from Department of Labour and National Service : National Service Registration Office addressed to Mr N E Swainston, 37 Leamington St, Reservoir Vic, dated 01/10/70 with Registration Number 21765955. Specific details are typed in black ink, and the document is signed by registrar W K Allen. Back of card advises recipient that he will be given at least 7 days' notice of the time and place for the medical, and that it is his responsibility to notify changes in marital status or address. Envelope is marked O.H.M.S, National Service Registration Papers and torn open at bottomnational service - australia, conscription, call-up, swainston collection

This item is part of a collection donated by Pte Neil Ernest Swainston (3801127) who was called up for National Service but was only in the Australian Army from 24 Apr 71 to 20 Oct 72 a total of 183 days. Reason for Pte Swainston’s discharge: Having completed the prescribed period of service in the ARAS (NS). During service Pte Swainston did 5 months with Recruit and Corps Training and regimental and rifleman duties with Infantry until his discharge.Two-part perforated document from Department of Labour and National Service signed by P H Cook, Secretary, bearing Registration Number 21765955. Addressed to Mr N E Swainston, 37 Leamington St, Reservoir, Victoria and date stamped 18 Feb 1971. This typed pro-forma document is a call-up notice instructing the receiver to appear at the Combined Services Recruiting Centre, 301 Flinders Lane, Melbourne at 7:30 pm on 25 February 1971 to appear before a medical board. Reverse side of document advises what to take to the appointment, what actions the receiver should take, and advises that failing to comply with the notice is an offence under the National Services Act.conscription, call-up, medical, swainston collection, australian national serviceman, pte neil ernest swainston, 3801127, recruit and corps training, rifleman