No1 Pump Station, Mundaring Weir

Find the beautiful old red brick building that is known as The No 1 Pump Station at Mundaring Weir. The historically significant spot, is found at the foot of Mundaring Weir’s dam wall. Owned by the National Trust, makes it free for members to visit, and it’s an excellent place to explore one of WA’s most important industrial heritage sites – perhaps the most important.

Here, you’ll learn the story of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme which was designed by WA’s chief engineer CY O’Connor, who also built Fremantle’s port. The pump station was originally built to transfer water from Mundaring Weir to the goldfields. A huge engineering feat in its day, as the water had to travel a whopping distance of over 560 kilometres! The scheme that was to bring fresh water to the death and disease ridden goldfields took many years to build, and was opened in 1903.

Known as ‘the scheme of madness’, and ultimately led to O’Connor’s untimely death, the pipeline is still used over 115 years later. The engineering feat meant that water is pumped and lifted through a steel pipeline to the inhospitable goldfields.  No 1 Pump Station has undergone a renovation by the National Trust. It’s just one of many pump houses along the pipeline, which travels closely to the Eastern Railway tack. Here, in the boiler room, you can see the steam-driven boilers which were fuelled by coal and then local timber.

The steam then travelled through a pipe to the pumproom, where the restored “A Engine” pump still sits. The other two engines were removed in the 1960s. These were all in service until the 1950s, when they were superseded by a neighbouring electric pump station.

As well as the machinery, there is also an interactive exhibition and displays at No1 Pump Station, Mundaring Weir to learn more about this huge project.

My grandson enjoyed helping me pump water from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie!

Over the bridge you’ll find a small park amongst the gum trees. Here there’s public toilets , as well as picnic shelters and BBQ facilities. It’s a beautiful spot for a picnic by the dam wall. There’s also picnic tables especially for wheel-chair bound people.

If you’re visiting Mundaring Weir, the No1 Pump Station is worth a look, if you’d like to delve a little deeper into this historical location.

The Details

Address: Mundaring Weir Road, Mundaring

Open: Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 4pm.

Public Holidays 12pm to 4pm (closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and in February)

Phone: 9295 2455

Website: www.goldenpipeline.com.au/place/no-1-pump-station 

Admission Fees:

National Trust Members – FREE

Adults – $8

Seniors / Students – $5

Children (over 5yrs) – $5 (under 5’s free)

Groups: Family of four – $20, Bookings for 10 or more from $5 per person

Find more things to do in Perth here.

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About Stella B

Stella is loving retirement! Besides her loves of gardening, reading and painting, she adores spending time with her family and being out and about in Perth. Living in the Perth Hills, her time is often spent brunching with her husband at one of Kalamunda’s many cafes or enjoying a food platter over a glass of wine at a Bickley Valley winery.

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