Spring Reserve, Guildford, placed on heritage register

12/4/98

One of Guildford's more unusual heritage assets has been placed on the heritage register by Heritage Minister Graham Kierath.

Spring Reserve, on the corner of Helena and Banks Streets, contains a defunk soak, well and trough and an artesian bore.

Mr Kierath said the site was important because it marked the importance of early European settlement.

"The reserve is unusual because it is the site of a succession of town water supplies of various kinds, all in close proximity to each other," he said.

"The place is also important for the innovation and technical achievement of the public water supply system developed in 1897 with the sinking of the artesian bore."

Guildford's first water supply came from a spring or soak, located on low, swampy ground at Spring Reserve. It is believed, however, that the soak could not provide sufficient water for the town during summer so water had to be carted by ferry from Success Well at West Guildford.

In 1865, the spring was stoned and fenced by convicts and 13 years later the Guildford Town Trust bought a pump for the spring.

In 1882, an open well was sunk for the town herd, travellers and teamsters.

"In the 1880s water supply schemes began to develop in Western Australia and Perth's first water supply scheme was operated by a private company, the City of Perth Water Works Company," Mr Kierath said.

"The company was later taken over by the Government and water supply became the responsibility of the Public Works Department."

Work began in September 1897 on an artesian bore on Spring Reserve. The bore was sunk 370m and produced 4.5 million litres of water a day.

"Piping was laid through the streets of Guildford to supply homes and it was also pumped to a trough in Spring Reserve for cattle," Mr Kierath said.

"But the water became increasingly sulphurous and unpleasant to drink and by the late 1890s could only be used for watering stock and for gardens."

By 1906 Guildford's water supply needs were met by the Government water supply scheme. However, ownership of Spring Reserve remained with the State Government until 1959, when it was transferred to the Municipality of Guildford.

The town bore currently provides water for irrigating Kings Meadow Polo fields and Stirling Square.

Meanwhile, Stirling Square, which was created 1833, has been listed permanently on the Register of Heritage Places.

It was modelled on an English village green with the parish church - in this case St Matthews Church - as its centre.

The square contains three memorials, Stirling Centenary Gates, the Memory Gates and the Soldiers Memorial, designed by Pietro Porcelli, a noted sculptor of the early 20th century.

Mr Kierath said Stirling Square was also recognised as a meeting place for the Aboriginal people, was associated with the beginnings of the Swan Valley Fringe Dwellers' movement and was a registered Aboriginal heritage site.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133