Map of Part of County Grant shewing Reservoir and Aqueduct for supplying Geelong with Water.

Rare detailed colonial map of Geelong showing landholders names and Geelong water supply.

Geelong grew quickly following Victoria’s goldrush in 1851, J. Millar, engineer, proposed in 1854 to use Worrombete [i.e. Wormbete] as the preferred reservoir. However, his survey and subsequent plan of 1857 was estimated to cost £600,000 which was rejected as too expensive. Other alternative reservoirs including Lake Modewarre and Stoney Creek at the head of Little River were under consideration, and the latter proved the preferred option. This was agreed upon formally by government officials and the Chief Engineer of Victorian Water Supply in October 1865.