Mundaring Weir Historical DAM CONSTRUCTION 1898-1901 PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ARCHIVAL PHOTOS FROM BATTYE LIBRARY
HISTORY
Mundaring Weir is the name of a dam (and historically the adjoining locality) which are located 39 km from Perth, Western Australia in the Darling Scarp. It is currently located in the Mundaring locality. The dam crosses the Helena River. The town of Mundaring was gazetted in 1898, the same year as the commencement of construction of the dam. A soldier, Ensign Robert Dale, became the first European to explore the region in 1829.
European populations did not grow significantly until construction of the dam in the late 1890s. This involved the building of a railway line from Mundaring to the Mundaring Weir site. The Irish Australian engineer C. Y. O'Connor was involved the design of a scheme that transported water to the Eastern Goldfields of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie in the eastern part of Western Australia.
Work commenced to raise the dam in the late 1940s, which was completed in November 1951.
In the early 1970s the downstream dam from the weir - the 'pipehead dam' was constructed. Mundaring Weir was the terminus of the Mundaring Weir Branch Railway, which was originally constructed by the Public Works Department of WA for the transport of materials for the construction of the dam.
It was not only after the completion of the weir that the location became popular with picnickers and sightseers, the project caught the imagination of the public in Perth.
The landscaped grounds of the weir, and the lower zig-zag section of the end of the railway line (which can still be seen when the capacity of the dams falls below approximately 35%) feature prominently in post cards of numerous weekend and special picnic excursion trains that travelled to the weir until the late 1940s.
The steepness of the Mundaring weir railway line restricted the capacity of the railways to conduct the picnic trains, as the Msa Garratt steam engines were the most suitable, but in short supply, at times when the weir was overflowing in the 1940s.
The railway line was closed in 1952.
DON PUGH

[@steely1neverwane]

Thanks for this information. 1995 was the last time the Mundaring weir overflowed.

[@Clintreid75]

I have a picture on my fridge of the last time the weir overflowed in September 1996! Born just up the road in Kalamunda, this was like my back yard growing up, thanks for uploading :)

[@allbunsglazing]

Thanks - enjoyed that.

[@carlbentley80]

Nice video. Thanks.

[@michaelthomas7178]

Thank you from Oklahoma. A most enjoyable video.

[@DEATHTOTHESHITTERS]

Thankyou. I did enjoy it.. .

[@leighchamberlain25]

Thanks Don, I enjoyed that alot