GS Aerial Imaging captured a modern angle on Yass dam on February 11, 2020. October 2020 marks seven years since its capacity upgrade.

Supplying our town with good quality water has always been a headache for local authorities. Initially, water was taken from the river which probably explains why the town developed on flood-prone land on the south side of an unpredictable river which would have to be crossed by traffic of all sorts from Sydney making their way south.

The cliffs along the north side would not have made getting water easy. However, access to water quickly became a problem of water quality and quantity when the river diminished to a few stagnate pools in times of drought. Too often around 1900 water was reported in the papers as not fit for domestic purposes.

In March of 1903 work on a weir, located downstream from ‘Cliftonwood’, was commenced however at best it offered temporary relief.  It became known as the railway weir whose primary purpose was to provide water for steam trains. In 1908 the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported, owing to a shortage of water in Yass, “water carts are kept constantly employed to supply the town.”

1903 Railway Weir downstream from Cliftonwood – image courtesy of Yass & District Historical Society Archives

Agitation for a proper dam continued. The problem was bluntly stated in July of 1915 – “the river was gradually silting up.  The whole country comprised in the proposed catchment was filthy, owing to the enormous number of rabbits, stock and sheep that ran on it. A tremendous quantity of offensive matter was carried into the river by thunderstorms”. Well water was “highly mineralised”.

By 1918 it was lamented that lack of water affected the prestige of the town which had waited “long and patiently”. It was hoped efforts to build a dam “would not be blocked by red-tapeism.”

Despite serious concerns about the cost – some £60,000 to be shared by the Railways who also wanted a better water supply for their trains – a dam, with filtration and reticulation system, was built in its current location. On 7th November 1927, it was announced “Yass water supply is being turned on today.  Want of water will not be a trouble in the future.”

Work begins on 1927 Yass dam – Image courtesy of Yass & District Historical Society Archives

This optimism was short-lived. By 1932 the Yass Tribune laments “The ineffectiveness of the town water is a disgrace” In February of 1934 motorists visiting Yass complained to the NRMA that “the tap water was brown in colour and appeared to be muddy” In February 1938 it was reported “During the Christmas period the water was filthy” and although quite clear again with a “storm on the catchment area it might be just as dirty next week.”

A report by Goulburn City Engineer Mr W I Muntz to Yass Council in 1951 “recommended alterations and additions to the reticulation system…the filtration plant and the filtering rate presented the first problem for the Council”.

More recently, in 2013, the height of the dam wall was increased to provide added storage capacity.

This all sounds so familiar. As in 1918, we wait “long and patiently”.

Judith Davidson for Yass and District Historical Society