non-fictionConflict over the control and sharing of the waters of the River Murray was one of the most contentious issues at the time of Federation. After four failed attempts, the River Murray Waters Agreement was signed in 1914 resolving the conflict. Fifteen iterations later, it is now the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, and possibly Australia's longest standing inter-governmental compact. This book covers the making of the first River Murray Waters Agreement, in the early 1900s, the formation of the River Murray Commission in 1917, through to Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory joining the Agreement in the 1990s, the Water Act in 2007 and the Basin Plan becoming law in 2012. The book has been written by Chris Guest who, as a career public servant and economist, has had a long interest in water policy and politics, an interest that grew as governments sought to tackle the problems of over-allocation of water. The book was launched on 14 February 2017, one hundred years to the day that the commissioners of the newly formed River Murray Commission met for the first time.river murray commission, river murray waters agreement, murray-darling basin agreement

This set of photos is from a leather bound album bearing the inscription "HUME RESERVOIR AUSTRALIA" plus 'The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M .P.' all inscribed in gold. It was presented to The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M. P, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on the occasion of his visit to the Hume Reservoir on 2nd November 1927. This album is of local and national significance as it documents the planning and development of the Hume Reservoir up to 1927. It was the largest water reservoir in the British Empire. The album records the pioneering engineering work that went into its construction.1. Locality Plan and Plan of Dam. The dam is about ten miles by road upstream from Albury and about three-quarters of a mile below the confluence of the Mitta Mitta River and the Murray River. Its main features consist of a concrete portion across the bed of the river with earth embankment at both ends. The foundations throughout are on hard granite, found at an average depth of about 40 feet below the surface, the centre line being located to take advantage of the most favourable rock levels.Heading on page "WORKS UNDER RIVER MURRAY WATERS AGREEMENT/HUME RESERVOIR" Beneath top diagram "FIG. 1. ELEVATION" Beneath second diagram "FIG. 2. PLAN" On map "LOCALITY PLAN"hume reservoir australia, river murray waters scheme, hume weir diagrams, hume weir location

This image shows Bethanga Bridge, which was constructed between 1927 and 1930 in Albury, NSW. The bridge was a necessity due to the building of the Hume Dam (Wier), 1919-1936. Bethanga Bridge is a long, nine-span, riveted-steel, variable depth, Pratt Truss road bridge of nine principal spans of 82 metres and a total length of 752 metres over the flooded valley of the Murray River, now part of Hume Reservoir. Because of its unique location, over the waters of a dam with the border running down the centre of the body of water, the Bethanga bridge is the only built structure shared by both New South Wales and Victoria. It was built 1.6 kilometres upstream of the dam and in 1961 was raised 300mm, with a concrete deck replacing the original wooden deck. The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria and the New South Wales Department of Public Works were responsible for the construction works for the Hume Weir under the River Murray Waters Agreement. It is apparent that a similar joint arrangement was made for the construction of the Bethanga Bridge as part of the Hume Weir works.This photograph of the Bethanga Bridge is of historical significance as it showcases the architectural skills of Percy Allen and Vincent Packer. Additionally, it reveals the environmental landscape of the 1920s-1930s, is linked to the Hume Dam and both New South Wales and Victorian heritage. Unmounted black and white rectangular photograph. Reverse: 1997.3196 84-20-3bethanga, bethanga bridge, hume dam, pratt truss, murray river, hume weir, transportation

The Bethanga Bridge was built between 1927 and 1930 as a joint venture between Victoria and New South Wales and was a key element of the River Murray Waters Agreement. It consists of nine spans of 82 metres long. Each span is supported between double reinforced concrete pylons and a riveted steel camel back Pratt truss. The overall span of the bridge is a length of 752 metres. It was completed in 1929 at a cost of £194,000. The road deck was initially constructed from timber but was replaced in 1961 with a concrete waffle slab deck 7.7metres wide. In 1961 the bridge deck and truss structure were raised 300 millimetres to allow for the enlargement of the lake. The bridge was designed in NSW by road engineer Percy Alan and the trusses were built by the Charles Ruwolt Pty. Ltd. Charles Ruwolt Pty. Ltd. was originally established by Charles Ruwolt as a foundry at Wangaratta in 1902 and transferred its operations to Richmond, Melbourne in 1914. By 1938 it had become one of the biggest engineering companies in Australia. After Charles Ruwolt’s death in 1946, Vickers Ltd. acquired the company and in 1948 the firm became known as Vickers Ruwolt Pty. Ltd. Because of the Bethanga Bridge’s unique location, over the waters of a dam with the border running down the centre of the body of water, the Bethanga Bridge is the only built structure shared by both Victoria and New South Wales. As the border of New South Wales aligns with the southern bank of the Murray River all of the other bridges along its length are deemed to be in New South Wales. The Bethanga Bridge is listed on both the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the Victorian Heritage Database. In 2015 the Bethanga Bridge was nominated for a heritage award by the Institution of Engineering Australia.These images are significant because they document the construction of a bridge which links Victoria and New South Wales and has been recognised for its historical, technical and engineering significance.A collection of photos documenting the construction of the Bethanga Bridge which links the States of Victoria and New South Wales as part of the construction of the Hume Dam .bethanga bridge, hume dam constuction, charles ruwolt, percy allan engineer

This set of photos is from a leather bound album bearing the inscription "HUME RESERVOIR AUSTRALIA" plus 'The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M .P.' all inscribed in gold. It was presented to The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M. P, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on the occasion of his visit to the Hume Reservoir on 2nd November 1927. This album is of local and national significance as it documents the planning and development of the Hume Reservoir up to 1927. It was the largest water reservoir in the British Empire. The album records the pioneering engineering work that went into its construction.RIVER MURRAY WATERS SCHEME, HUME RESERVOIR THE LARGEST IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE. ' The history of the inception of the River Murray Waters Agreement under the terms of which the Hume Reservoir is being constructed, the purposes of the work, its correlation to the other works on the Murray and the methods of construction are all outlined in the attached article entitled “The River Murray Waters Scheme, the Nile of Australia”, by Mr H.H. Dare, M.E., M.Inst.C.E., Commissioner, Water Conservation and Irrigation, and the New South Wales Representative on the River Murray Commission. The article was published in 1925 and some alterations brought about by the efflux of time are necessary. As far as personnel is concerned, the death of Mr J.S. Dethridge, M.Inst.C.E., removed a very able engineer from the councils of the Commission. His place as Representative of Victoria has been taken by Mr R. Horsfield. It is also to be regretted that ill-health has caused the retirement of Mr E.M. de Burgh, M.Inst.C.E., the eminent Chief Engineer for New South Wales, who, with Mr Dethridge, was largely responsible for the Agreement cemented by the River Murray Waters Acts and, inter alia, for the design of the Hume Dam. The following summary of the progress of work on the Locks might be substituted for the latter part of Mr Dare’s paragraph. Up to the present time six locks and weirs have been completed, the highest in the series being at Torrumberry and the lowest at Blanchetown. Locks No.26 at Torrumberry and No.11 at Mildura were built by Victoria and are in use. A lock and weir (No.10) is in progress at Wentworth, and the necessary camp arrangements, purchase of plant, etc., have been undertaken in connection with lock and weir No.15 at Euston, both under the direction of New South Wales. Lock No.9, which forms part of the Lake Victoria Scheme, Lock No.5 at Renmark and Lock No.3 in South Australia hume reservoir australia, river murray waters scheme

This set of photos is from a leather bound album bearing the inscription "HUME RESERVOIR AUSTRALIA" plus 'The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M .P.' all inscribed in gold. It was presented to The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M. P, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on the occasion of his visit to the Hume Reservoir on 2nd November 1927. This album is of local and national significance as it documents the planning and development of the Hume Reservoir up to 1927. It was the largest water reservoir in the British Empire. The album records the pioneering engineering work that went into its construction.2. Detail Plan and Section. Starting from the New South Wales and there will be an earthen embankment 430 feet 6 inches long which is retained by the North Wing Wall. Then come the sluice section 284 feet 3 inches long, the spillway 720 feet long and the South Wing Wall, making a total length of 1,042 feet 6 inches of concrete wall. Beyond the South Wing Wall is earth embankment again to a length of 3,827 feet. The Full Supply Level is R.L.626.00 and allowance has been made for a surcharge of 9 feet. A road will run along the top of the dam at R.L.642.00. The sluice section contains seven offlets, the three nearest the north wing wall being 13 feet in diameter for hydro-electric purposes and the other four 9 feet in diameter for regulation purposes only. There are to be stony sluice gates on the upstream ends of the outlets and needle valves on the downstream ends. The shock of the discharged water will be taken by a stilling pool. Trash racks will protect the intake ends of the outlets. Next comes the spillway section, which is curved on the downstream face, and carried up to within 15 feet of the full supply level. Above that will be a series of piers between which will be the flood gates and on top of which the roadway will be carried. The gates will be 20 feet wide and 15 feet high and will be 29 in number. They will slide down the face of the wall when opened for the escape of the water. The investigation of the control of this cascade of water was made by means of a model and as a result the form of “bucket” or energy dissipater shown on the section of the spillway was decided upon. The earth embankment in Victoria is being constructed by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria who are the Constructing Authority for that State under the River Murray Waters Agreement. The core of the embankment is of concrete 6 feet wide at the base tapering to 2 feet at the top end and is reinforced with steel rods from the level of the decomposed rock upwards. On the downstream side, at about natural surface level, is a tunnel for drainage and inspection purposes. Above the tunnel is a vertical layer of large stones to drain any seepage to the tunnel. Against the core wall is packed selected material of as impervious a character as can be got locally and beyond that the bank is carefully built up in horizontal layers by means of horses and wheel scoops. The upstream slope is 3-to-1 hardening to 2½-to-1 at the top and the downstream slope is 2½-to-1 hardening to 2.07-to-1 at the top. The thrust of the upstream toe is taken by a mass of granite blocks, and this face is protected by concrete laid in situ. The width of the bank at base is 650 feet and at top 32 feet.hume reservoir australia, river murray waters scheme, hume weir diagrams, hume plan details

Taken during the construction of the Bethanga Bridge (1927-1930), this sepia photograph shows a view of the incomplete bridge taken from inside the structure and looking down the span of the bridge from where the photographer stands. The photograph depicts an incomplete deck, with loose-looking wooden planks/panels lain along the centre in groups of three. Once complete, the original decking of the bridge was made of timber before being replaced by cement in 1961 (Victorian Heritage Database).Bethanga Bridge is of historical significance to the Indigo Shire for its associations with the construction of Hume Dam, its associations with the River Murray Waters Agreement and the River Murray Commission, and illustration of the needs and influence of the farming communities along the river in this area - particularly in relation to the building of the Weir. It also represents the collaboration between New South Wales and Victoria on a large infrastructure project, being the only built structure shared by both New South Wales and Victoria due to its location. also reflecting on the Shire's geographical closeness to this neighboring state. This photograph is part of a series that documents the construction of this well-known heritage site of significance to the Indigo Shire. It reflects upon a period of growth and change in the area.Sepia, rectangular photograph printed on matt photographic paper, unmountedReverse: 1997.3190 / Another snap of the bridge. taken on the bridge showing huge steel sides / 84-19-4 / V [in circle] 354 / KODAK PRINTbethanga bridge, hume dam, bridges album, construction, road construction, hume weir