Furphy Water Cart
From Engineering Heritage Australia
The Furphy water cart was a characteristic item in rural Australia for many decades after it was first put on the market about 1880. Its simple construction, robustness and adaptability made it legendary.
The term "Furphy" became a synonym for suspect information & rumour during World War I when drivers of horse drawn water carts servicing Australian troops, carried information & gossip between camps.
The tanks are still manufactured at the Shepparton works.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Historic Engineering Marker (HEM) |
| Award Date | 24 October 1985 |
| Heritage Significance | The water cart invention of John Furphy is an example of practical engineering innovation. The method of carting water in those days was horse drawn arrangements of wooden casks or barrels placed on a skid or sled. John Furphy was an experienced wheelright and his design for construction of the water tank consisted of shrinking an iron band on the end casting to tightly seal the cylinder of the tank. The 180 gallon unit proved most popular because when filled, the whole unit weighed about a ton and was a fair load for a good horse. |
| Nomination Document | Not available |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Available here. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel Image | Not available |
References:
Australian War Memorial, Water Cart (Furphy), accessed 19 August 2023.
Barnes, John and Furphy, Andrew, Furphy : the water cart and the word, Australian Scholarly Publishing, Melbourne, 2005.
