Tarragindi Reservoir

The population of Brisbane grew rapidly in the 1920s requiring additional infrastructure. The Reservoir was constructed to provide a solution for the provision of water supply to the population in the Tarragindi area during this period. Construction was begun in 1920 by the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board but was stopped temporarily in December of that year. In October 1922 construction was recommenced, though progress was impeded by the intermittent mechanical failure of the new steam excavator used on the site.

Finally in August 1923 the Minister for Works, the Honourable Forgan Smith turned water into the Reservoir for the first time. Tarragindi Reservoir was connected to a ring main to facilitate movement of water around the system was constructed in to other reservoirs in Brisbane in 1971-74

Responsibility for Brisbane’s Water supply was transferred in 1928 from the State Government to the Brisbane City Council. This was done on the recommendation of the Gutteridge Royal Commission. Responsibility for this facility has remained with the Brisbane City Council since that date.

The reservoir has an oval plan and the concrete structure is largely below ground. A high wire-mesh fence encloses it, which is in turn surrounded by a publicly accessible vehicular drive. The most visible element of the reservoir is its metal deck roof. The white Colorbond Spandeck profile sheeting supports steel gangways to various parts of the roof. 

The ridge of the roof features a continuous meshed ventilator, which stops short of the two distinctive cupolas, located at the foci of the oval. Each cupola crowns a concrete shaft providing access to a scour valve pit. The perimeter fence also encloses a small brick valve house at each end of the reservoir. There is also a concrete chlorination hut near the inlet on the western end of the oval.

Trees and overgrown shrubbery is revealed from behind the extent of the boundary wall along Tarragindi Road. The composition of wall and trees provide a visual relief and enhances the character of adjacent residential properties to the east.

1. Brisbane City Council Archives

2. Brisbane City Council Minutes and Meetings, 1915-1945

3. Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans

4. Greenwood, Gordon. Brisbane 1859-1959 A History of Local Government. Council of the City of Brisbane, Brisbane, 1959

5. Cameron, Ian. 125 Years of State Public Works in Queensland 1859-1984. Brisbane: Boolerong Publications. 1989

6. Cole, John R. Shaping a City: Greater Brisbane 1925-1985. Brisbane: William Brooks Queensland. 1984