The spot chosen for the settlement was at the
head of the cove, near the run of fresh water which
stole silently along through a very thick wood the
stillness of which had then, for the first time since
the Creation, been interrupted by the rude sound of
the labourer’s axe. (David
Collins, Account of the English Colony of New
South Wales, 1802)
The settlement of Sydney was centred on a stream of fresh
water that emptied into Sydney Cove. After the first few years
the water was proving inadequate and the convicts were set
to work digging holding tanks into its watercourse. Hence
the first water supply was called The Tank Stream.
Images
Tank
Stream Map
The catchment area of the Tank Stream superimposed on
a map of current Sydney. (Reproduced from
W V Aird, The Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage
of Sydney, The Metropolitan Water Sewerage &
Drainage Board, Sydney , 1961.)
From
stream to sewer
This is part of the specification for alterations to the
Tank Stream sewer which were undertaken in 1879. The work
was undertaken by William Spicer and cost £1,517
10s. The Hamilton Street mentioned in this document now
remains only as two small remnants. The section running
off Bridge Street is now called Tank Stream Way (City
of Sydney Archives, CRS 65/1391)
Tank
Stream remembered
In the pavements of the city there are five separate sites
that mark the Tank Stream. Glass modules ripple with blue
light to mark the old watercourse and steel inscriptions
record the voices of early settlers. The sculpture, by
Lynne Roberts-Goodwin was commissioned by the City of
Sydney for its Sculpture Walk in 2000. This photo shows
the section in Martin Place near the Cenotaph. (City
of Sydney Archives, CRS 904/C011)
Tank
Streak Fountain, Alfred Street
This Stephen Walker sculpture was donated to the City
by John Fairfax and Sons Ltd. in 1981 and is located in
Herald Square at Circular Quay. The cascading Fountain
with bronze animals is an invitation to children to explore,
and its dedication ‘to all the children who have
played around the Tank Stream’ evokes a sense of
this place stretching back into its pre-urban landscape.
(Tony Smith / City of Sydney)
