We’ve been working to improve the safety of our heritage-listed Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct and open public access to the Barwon River and 66 hectares of surrounding land. The aqueduct carried the Geelong outfall sewer across the Barwon River from 1915 to 1992, when it was decommissioned and replaced by a pipeline built under the river. Safety risks posed by falling concrete from the deteriorating structure have meant the area around the aqueduct has been closed to the public since 1995.
Once the works are completed and the site is made safe, we aim to progressively open up public access to the area.
The initiative will also support separate work that is underway to create a new cultural and community precinct that will encourage public use of the wider area.
Led by Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, in partnership with Barwon Water, The award-winning project is rehabilitating a 66-hectare stretch of the river plain known as Porronggitj Karrong (place of the Brolga) and forms a component of the larger Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut Masterplan for the Barwon through Geelong parklands.
This will ultimately create a balanced ecological system, incorporating Wadawurrung Cultural values, for the whole community to connect, listen and learn from Country.
Caption: Click and drag to interact with this 360 degree panorama of the Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct. The arrow shows the eighth tower. If you want to turn off the motion, press the 'pause' button in the top right of the image.
Aqueduct history
The aqueduct was constructed between 1912 and 1915, and carried the Geelong outfall sewer across the Barwon River. The Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct is a 756-metre, multi-span bridge structure that crosses the Barwon River at Breakwater, south of the centre of Geelong.
The aqueduct is a visible part of Geelong’s otherwise hidden first public sewerage system – and a symbol of Barwon Water’s 100+ year commitment to public health. It was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 1991 as a place of architectural, historical, scientific (technical) and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria.
The aqueduct was a significant example of early engineering design using reinforced concrete - an innovative method promoted by French engineer Armand Considère.
The structure is significant for its architecture, which was modelled after the Firth of Forth Bridge in Scotland. It is also a remnant of one of Victoria’s earliest sewerage systems.
It was decommissioned in 1992 when a new sewer pipeline was built under the river. Safety risks posed by falling concrete from the deteriorating structure have meant the area around the aqueduct has been closed to the public since 1995.
Heritage Victoria permit
In November 2020, Heritage Victoria granted Barwon Water a permit to remove 4 of the 14 spans of the aqueduct. The permit came with conditions to protect and conserve the remaining structure.
Since then we’ve been working with designers and engineers to determine a safe and successful method to deliver on this permit. Extensive investigations have found that the Aqueduct cannot be safely maintained, and its eventual failure is unavoidable, even if structural propping was installed.
Community and worker safety is our top priority and the safest remaining option is to apply for a new permit to dismantle the majority of the structure. We will be lodging a new permit, seeking to safely dismantle aqueduct structure and significantly recognise its heritage values.
Heritage Interpretation Plan
A Heritage Interpretation Plan (HIP) will be developed, focusing on the historic, scientific, aesthetic and architectural significance of the aqueduct. To develop the HIP, we’ll work collaboratively with the existing Community Reference Group, which has been providing input into the project since 2021. We’ll also feedback from the broader community.A future for the aqueduct and surrounds
In considering the future of the aqueduct, Barwon Water investigated options for ensuring public safety and improving public access to the Barwon River and surrounding land, while balancing:
- heritage values
- Wadawurrung Cultural values
- environmental values
- public and workplace safety
- and managing costs for our customers.
Community Reference Group
A Community Reference Group for the Porronggitj Karrong and Aqueduct projects was established by Barwon Water and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in November 2021. They meet quarterly to provide input into the projects. A key task for the group will be to contribute to the Heritage Interpretation Plan for the aqueduct.Latest News
Surveys & Forms
Aqueduct and area heritage survey
Do you have a memory, photo or other information to share about the Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct, in Breakwater, Geelong, or the nearby area?
Or perhaps you have questions about the history, construction or cultural heritage of the aqueduct?
If you do, we’d love you to share these with us as we begin to develop a Heritage Interpretation Plan for the aqueduct.
The Heritage Interpretation Plan will cover how we present information about the historic, scientific, aesthetic and architectural significance of the aqueduct to visitors and community.
We will develop it in consultation with Heritage Victoria, the community, and expert stakeholders, for final Heritage Victoria approval.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners are leading the development of a Healthy Country Plan for the surrounding 66 hectares of land. We are collecting information to help with this. If you have information you think might help, please let us know.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the Heritage Interpretation Plan or Healthy Country Plan.
Collection notice: For more information on our privacy policy, download our survey collection notice here
