Evandale Water Scheme
May. 14th, 2008 06:26 pmOn Tuesday I went with a group from the Evandale Historical Society and other to look at the remains of the convict-built water scheme.
This was started in 1836 to supply water to Launceston. The idea was a tunnel from the South Esk River would carry water to a race, that ran 12 miles o Windmill Hill in Launceston, and along the way, provide irrigation for farms and power for water mills.
The first attempt at a tunnel ran from the river to an outlet point on what is now Springvale. The second tunnel skirts the edge of Evandale. Nine shafts were sunk along the route, so the tunnel could grow out from each point, rather than just from the end points.
The scheme was abandoned was 1838, not quite 2 years after it was started. Traces of it remain though.
( More, of course )
This was started in 1836 to supply water to Launceston. The idea was a tunnel from the South Esk River would carry water to a race, that ran 12 miles o Windmill Hill in Launceston, and along the way, provide irrigation for farms and power for water mills.
The first attempt at a tunnel ran from the river to an outlet point on what is now Springvale. The second tunnel skirts the edge of Evandale. Nine shafts were sunk along the route, so the tunnel could grow out from each point, rather than just from the end points.
The scheme was abandoned was 1838, not quite 2 years after it was started. Traces of it remain though.
