Golden Pipeline
A time capsule of water,
gold & Western Australia
A project from the National Trust of WA
A self-guided drive trail between the Perth Hills and Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields. Go with the Flow. Follow the water to discover more about the audacious goldfields water supply scheme and Engineer CY O’Connor.
“Future generations, I am quite certain will think of us and bless us for our far seeing patriotism, and it will be said of us, as Isaiah said of old, ‘They made a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert”
Towns Cunderdin to Meredin
Every town through which you pass following the water from No 3 to No 4, will have a connection to the pipeline, both literally and physically. Development in this area was boosted first by the coming of the railway line and then by the opening of the water supply scheme.
These are towns that grew to service farmers. The negative side of clearing the land is reflected in salt-scalded expanses. Removing deep-rooted trees that kept groundwater from rising through saline soil, in order to plant shallow-rooted crops, had a price and farmers in the area are finding innovative ways to deal with salinity.
Ironically, while a lack of water before the scheme was opened impeded development in this area, one town experienced an excess of water.
Explore
Click on any map section or place below to discover The Golden Pipeline.
Northam to Cunderdin
Explore section two
