Millbrook Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Millbrook Reservoir is a 16,000 Megalitre artificial water storage reservoir
in the Adelaide Hills
, South Australia
. It was built during from 1914–1918 during World War I
to control water flows in the upper River Torrens
and provide gravity fed water to Adelaide
's eastern suburbs.
It is named after the small town of Millbrook, demolished and removed during construction. During the 1970s the nearby town of Chain Of Ponds, South Australia
was also removed to prevent pollution
of the reservoir's water.
Millbrook covers 178 hectares (440 acre) behind a 288 metres (945 ft) clay-cored earth dam. It lies on Chain of Ponds creek, a tributary of the River Torrens. Water in the reservoir is piped from a weir
near Gumeracha
but it is also used to balance storage of River Murray water via the Mannum–Adelaide pipeline. It is used to capture approximately half of the Torrens' water flow.
John Tippett named the town of Millbrook in the late 19th century after Millbrook
in his native Cornwall
.
The settlement was a suburb of Adelaide.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in the Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It was built during from 1914–1918 during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to control water flows in the upper River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
and provide gravity fed water to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
's eastern suburbs.
It is named after the small town of Millbrook, demolished and removed during construction. During the 1970s the nearby town of Chain Of Ponds, South Australia
Chain Of Ponds, South Australia
Chain of Ponds is a small town near Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area.-History:The settlement was established by the South Australia Company. First settled early in the 1840s, the township was laid out after the opening of the North East...
was also removed to prevent pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
of the reservoir's water.
Millbrook covers 178 hectares (440 acre) behind a 288 metres (945 ft) clay-cored earth dam. It lies on Chain of Ponds creek, a tributary of the River Torrens. Water in the reservoir is piped from a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
near Gumeracha
Gumeracha, South Australia
Gumeracha is a town near Adelaide, South Australia, located on the Adelaide-Mannum Road. It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area. At the 2006 census, Gumeracha had a population of 731.-History:...
but it is also used to balance storage of River Murray water via the Mannum–Adelaide pipeline. It is used to capture approximately half of the Torrens' water flow.
John Tippett named the town of Millbrook in the late 19th century after Millbrook
Millbrook, Cornwall
Millbrook is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated on the Rame Peninsula four miles south of Saltash....
in his native Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
The settlement was a suburb of Adelaide.