Shocking

This is one of Australia's spectacular achievements, the Mundaring Weir Pipeline, Engineered by C.Y. O'Connor one of our greatest Engineers of the Victorian era, he designed the weir to trap water to pump to Kalgoorlie. (It was eventually going to cost him his life)
It was then to be the longest pipeline in the world (uphill) it had never been done before.
Many people thought at that time it was complete madness. It also proved to be the most expensive project in the Commonwealth, twenty one and a half million pounds!

Some say he cut corners, he didn't like red tape, he was a difficult man to work with (like most geniuses) which resulted in him having many enemies in parliament.
He was so confident his scheme would work, but with the scathing criticism from parliament, and the blow out cost of his project, he eventually rode out to the beach in Fremantle on his horse and shot himself! That was in 1902.
After his death, the water was pumped from Mundaring, it came through at Mount Charlotte Reservoir in Kalgoorlie, but of course C.Y O'Connor never saw his greatest achievement fulfilled.

Without him and his Pipeline, its very probable that dry old Kalgoorlie may not be the town it is today.
100.000 people and around 6 million sheep, rely on the pipeline...

Conclusion; A "shocking" piece of Australia's history as its taught in schools today.
This platform has just been finished at the top of the dam wall and the stone
"A Scheme Of Madness" has just been laid.
There is also, a long standing, bronze statue of him on his horse near the beach in Fremantle, as a tribute to his ingenious project.

(No Anniemay this wasn't here when you were with us in March, you will both see it next time!). :-)