Semaphore Water Tower, SA
The water supply to Leferve Peninsula was via pipes carried by the Jervois Bridge. When the bridge was opened to allow ships to pass it was necessary to disconnect the water and gas pipes carried by the bridge.
In 1880 to maintain water supply to the peninsula a water tower was constructed in the suburb of Semaphore.
The water tower is a masonry building, 18 metres tall, with 2.1-metre-thick walls at the base tapering to 0.45 metres at the top.
The tower had a 9-metre diameter by 4.5-metre-deep tank at the top for a capacity of 305,000 litres. The tank had two compartments to allow cleaning. The tank capacity was sufficient for 5 hours of usage. The Jervois Bridge took 15 minutes to open and close.
Water was carried to the water tower via pipes into its basement and was pumped up to tanks. Float switches triggered the pumps.
The water and gas pipes were transferred to the non-opening Port Adelaide Rail Bridge when it was constructed in 1911 and by 1915 the water tower was no longer needed.
References:
Couper-Smartt, John “The History of a Commodious Harbour – Port Adelaide”, Wakefield Press, 2021.
