Charters Towers Water Supply
The Charters Towers Water Supply system is of historical significance as it represents a substantial system that was first operated over 100 years ago to supply a city which was expanding rapidly because of gold mining on a major scale. It was a major example of a pumped water supply system in Queensland in a regional area.
The water source was then and remains the Burdekin River which runs within a few kilometres of the city. Originally the pumping station consisted of reciprocating steam pumping engines on the river bank fuelled with locally gathered timber. Around the time of the Second World War the system changed to electricity supply from the mains. The original pumping station was located below a substantial weir across the river. The third (second electric) pumping station was located above the weir.
The two pumping engines in the original pumping station, the first installed in 1890, are of high international significance. The second engine was installed in 1896. They were manufactured by Hathorn Davey & Co of Leeds, England. They are amongst the last of the vertical inverted non-rotating Davey Differential engine type in the world and represented a high level of technological sophistication at the time they were installed. The engines are derelict but remarkably intact.
The pumps delivered water to a large service reservoir on Tower Hill above the city.
A Water treatment Plant was added to the system in 1972.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Engineering Heritage Marker (EHM) |
| Award Date | June 2018 |
| Heritage Significance | Early Water Supply and Pump System in outback Queensland |
| Nomination Documents | Water Supply |
| Ceremony Report | to be located |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel Image | Available here. |
