Jeannette HOPE
Water remains the limiting resource for human life in western NSW, either too much of it or more often, too little. Away from the rivers, explorers and early settlers depended on Aboriginal knowledge of water sources and, often, access to Aboriginal constructed wells. The unreliability of water meant early pastoralism was nomadic in nature, later developing the strategy of acquiring a chain of properties so stock could be moved between waters. Pastoral stations, where the country lent itself, dug wells, drilled bores and built dams, earth ground tanks and wooden pipelines, tapping both ground and artesian water. Water was raised by whims and windmills. Government bores filled ground tanks at towns and public watering places along Travelling Stock Routes. Pastoral homesteads and shearing quarters, and outback hotels, all needed water storages. Ships tanks and iron tanks were common, but the western NSW ranges are characterised by stone ground tanks, rectangular or round, below or above ground – many are gems of the stonemason’s craft. Slabbed wells survive from the Riverina to the Qld border. Pastoralism could adapt to the unpredictable water supplies, but this was a major problem for mines, mining townships and railways. Groundwater was pumped, water trains enlisted, dams and pipelines built, but water was always in scarce supply. In severe droughts Aboriginal rainmakers and charlatans were appealed to, and in Broken Hill, demand for water led to public demonstrations, in the case of Rat Hole Tank, resulting in the burning of an effigy of a government minister. This paper discusses the water heritage of western NSW with suggestions for management. Extensively documented in old government reports and maps, surprisingly well-preserved, especially the numerous stone tanks and slabbed wells, items of water heritage have been inexcusably neglected. Few are recognised or protected, in spite of their significance, utility and beauty.