The History of Brisbane Plumbing

Did you know that it wasn’t until the mid-1960s that indoor toilets and sewerage systems became widespread? Let me give you a brief history of Brisbane plumbing, tracing its evolution from the era before dams and indoor toilets to the modern plumbing world of today.

Brisbane Plumbing: Bigger and Better Dams (1820 – 1880)

In 1824, authorities established a penal colony in Moreton Bay for hardened criminals and reoffending prisoners. Nearly 2400 men and 145 women lived there under the military supervision of almost 100 soldiers.

The colony extended from Stradbroke Island to Limestone (now Ipswich). However, the water supply soon dried up, prompting a relocation in 1842 of the settlement to a more reliable water source in Brisbane.

The new water supply for the area came from a creek that began at Yorks Hollow, flowed through the city centre, and flowed into the Brisbane River. In 1838, builders constructed an earth dam on the creek to boost its capacity. This dam functioned as the city’s sole public water supply until 1866.

The Enoggera and Gold Creek Dams

Unfortunately, the Brisbane River’s water was too salty for the settlers to drink. The creek’s water supply also faced significant criticism. Its embankments suffered from erosion, and stray animals frequently accessed it.

The Brisbane Board of Waterworks constructed the Enoggera Dam in 1866 to address the inadequate water supply. This dam served 6,000 people, but with a growing population, it was still not enough. So in 1885 they constructed a second dam, the Gold Creek Dam, to meet growing demand.

From 1878, the Ipswich Municipal Council became the first council in the state to manage a water supply, drawing water from the Brisbane River at Kholo.

Long-Term Pumping Solutions (1890 – 1900)

To address the water demand problem caused by a growing population, the Brisbane Board of Waterworks devised a plan. They began constructing the Mount Crosby Pumping Station in 1890, and by 1892, it was pumping water from the Brisbane River. They also built a new storage reservoir there, making it the city’s primary water supply. However, as the population continued to grow, the need for additional water sources became apparent.

The Federation Drought, which severely affected Queensland between 1901 and 1903, underscored the necessity for a storage dam on the River. The chosen site for this dam was Cabbage Tree Creek, located upstream of Mount Crosby.

No More Muddy Brisbane River Water (1910 – 1940)

The Brisbane Board of Waterworks replaced The Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in 1910.

Until 1917, consumers received raw and muddy water pumped directly from the Brisbane River. Public concerns prompted the construction of a sedimentation basin at Mount Crosby.

In 1925, to enhance water quality further, authorities began adding chlorine to bulk water supplies. Chlorine, when added to water, killed harmful organisms that could otherwise multiply.

After just 18 years in operation, the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board dissolved, transferring its responsibilities to the Brisbane City Council.

In the 1830s, water quality and sewerage saw continuous improvements. Authorities constructed new water supplies to meet the increasing demand and directed waste from Ipswich’s CBD to a treatment plant.

From 1947, the use of modern water treatment and filtration systems began, reducing the area needed for water treatment. Authorities added these systems to the Mount Crosby site, which remained the main water supply for Brisbane.

From Sewerless to Fully Flushed Sewerage Systems (1950 – 1960)

World War II led to the suspension of work on a major dam, that had begun in the mid-1930s. Construction resumed in 1948 and finished in 1959. This new dam was built to provide much of Queensland with an ample water supply and also served for flood mitigation.

Until the 1960s, many parts of Brisbane lacked sewer connections. People would dispose of human waste in buckets, which “night soil men” collected. In 1965, 45% of Australian homes were not connected to any sewerage systems, with these homes primarily located in the outer suburbs.

When future Prime Minister Gough Whitlam won the seat of Werriwa in 1967, however, this began to change. The late Neville Wran, who served as New South Wales Premier from 1976 to 1986, recalled:

It was said of Caesar Augustus that he found Rome brick and left it marble. It will be said of Gough Whitlam that he found the outer suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane unsewered, and left them fully flushed.

Modern Water Treatment and Smart Bathrooms (1970 – today)

Construction of the Wivenhoe Dam commenced in 1976 and finished in 1984. It holds over 1 million megalitres of drinking water and has capacity for an additional 14.5 million megalitres for flood mitigation, which is 2.5 times the volume of Sydney Harbour!

In the 1990s, the introduction of integrated data and telemetry systems allowed for the computerized control of water and sewerage assets. Also, in 1995, Metropolitan Plumbing was established and has since expanded its services to many cities across Australia, including Brisbane.

Metropolitan Becomes Part of Brisbane’s Plumbing History

Thankfully today we’re less concerned with ensuring adequate sewerage and have graduated to more sophisticated plumbing systems. Now we’re more concerned with installing smart bathrooms and telling people not to flush baby wipes!

Metropolitan Plumbing has a long-standing history of excellent customer service. Our efforts have been recognised with the 2020 Product Review award for the plumbing category across Australia. When you use a Metropolitan plumber in Brisbane, they bring more than 25 years of experience and exceptional customer service with them to every job.