Historical information

The large aluminium sand scoop was used by Wodonga Waterworks Trust and it is part of the North East Region Water Authority collection in the Wodonga Historical Society.

Wodonga's drinking water and wastewater were originally managed by the Wodonga Waterworks Trust, which was established in 1897, after Wodonga became a separate shire in 1876. In 1923 a Wodonga Waterworks Trust referendum to provide funding for new infrastructure to supply more water of better quality to Wodonga was passed. This included building the Wodonga Water Tower and it was completed in 1924. It supplied water to Wodonga until 1959, when it was drained and decommissioned after the No 1 Basin on Huon Hill was completed in 1958.

In 1983 the Wodonga Waterworks Trust and the Wodonga Sewerage Authority became part of the Wodonga Council, and by 1989 a filtration plant at Huon Hill was completed, which provided filtered water of improved quality to Wodonga, in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.

In 1994 the Kiewa Murray Region Water Authority took over the Wodonga Council’s water and wastewater operations, and then in 1999 the Kiewa Murray Region Water Authority combined with the Ovens Region Water Authority and became the North East Region Water Authority or NERWA. NERWA then became known as North East Water.

Significance

The sand scoop has local significance as part of the North East Region Water Authority collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society. It also has wider state significance as a rare example of the equipment used in water management in Wodonga.

Physical description

Large aluminium scoop with a handle soldered on one side edge. Two holes and one indent in the end of the handle.