Cook’s River Dam, Botany Bay, New …

Colonial engraving of the Cooks River dam which was located where the present bridge on the Princes Highway at Tempe, New South Wales is. Construction began in 1839 and was completed in 1842. It was demolished between 1896–99.

The Cooks River dam was built because a new water supply source was urgently needed for Sydney. Water from the old Tank Stream had been abandoned in 1826, and the carting of water from the Lachlan Swamps (now Centennial Park) through Busby’s Bore until the 1830s showed a need for a better and more cost-effective fresh water source. The Cooks River was considered the most convenient.

From the original edition of the Illustrated London News.

References:
De Vries, L. History as Hot News: World of the Early Victorians Through the Eyes of the “Illustrated London News”.. London 1996.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 8438724
State Library Victoria: RARELTEF 052 IL696I
State Library New South Wales: RECORD IDENTIFIER 74Vv5Oy4wEgl