16 Facts About Prospect Reservoir

Prospect Reservoir is a heritage-listed 50,200-megalitre potable water supply and storage reservoir created by the Prospect Dam, across the Prospect Creek located in the Western Sydney suburb of Prospect, in New South Wales, Australia.

Prospect Reservoir is Sydney's largest reservoir and stores water conveyed from Warragamba Dam, the Upper Nepean Dams and if necessary, from the Shoalhaven Scheme, for supplying the larger component of the water distribution system of the Sydney metropolis.

Prospect Reservoir built a large house there in the 1820s, which he named Veteran Hall.

Prospect Reservoir died on the property on 16 June 1850 and the property was eventually acquired by the Metropolitan Water Board.

Prospect Reservoir was the first earthfill embankment dam in Australia and was completed in 1888.

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When it was completed in 1888, Prospect reservoir provided the storage component of the scheme, as the weirs did not have the capacity to store water.

In 1895 a painting of the Prospect Reservoir was created by Arthur Streeton which was owned by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board before being donated to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1937.

At that time the area downstream and east of the Prospect Reservoir wall was re-shaped to form a public picnic area, burying the end of the tunnel and new concrete pipes.

Prospect Reservoir is an earth dam 2210 metres long and consists essentially of a puddle clay core with shoulders of selected earth placed in layers 300mm thick.

Prospect Reservoir has a large recreational area on its eastern side with a number of park precincts that feature picnic spots, lookouts and BBQs.

The Prospect Reservoir is open to public during the week and weekends from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM during daylight saving time and from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM during non daylight saving time.

Prospect Reservoir is historically significant at the state level as it is a central element of the Sydney water supply system.

Prospect Reservoir reflects three significant changes in municipal life during the late 19th century; the development of water and general public utility services; the importance of ensuring an adequate and dependable centralised water supply; and the collective bureaucratic response to the delivery of capital works of this nature.

Prospect Reservoir is strongly associated with the Harbours and Rivers Branch of the NSW Public Works Department, particularly Edward Orpen Moriarty, Head of the branch at the time of the Reservoir's construction, and later with the Board of Water Supply and Sewerage and most recently, with the Sydney Catchment Authority.

Prospect Reservoir area is aesthetically significant, as a picturesque site with a large expanse of water, parklands, landscaping and bush.

Prospect Reservoir and surrounding area was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.