Pumping no more
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325584)
Rockingham, Australia
January 3, 2017 6:32pm CST
This water-wheel was built of timber in 1895 to supply water to the builders of the Leeuwin lighthouse situated in Western Australia on the most south-westerly point on the mainland of Australia.
Later the wheel supplied water to the lighthouse keepers' cottages. The cottages were built of limestone from a nearby quarry.
A natural spring located near the adjacent wetlands was utilised to sent water along a wooden flume or trough. This caused the wheel to revolve and activated a ram pump which piped water to the lighthouse. It delivered roughly a litre at every stroke and operated 24 hours a day.
Over the years the water in the spring has dropped considerably. An electric motor now pumps water to the wheel to keep it moist and prevent it from drying out and cracking. The wheel itself has long stopped turning and is now encrusted in calcified lime.
When I was a child and we visited the area, the wheel was still turning. It hasn't turned for many years now but is an iconic landmark of the area.
18 people like this
20 responses
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
4 Jan 17
That's really cool. Great photo!
2 people like this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
4 Jan 17
It looks like a fall of flowers - worth preserving.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 Jan 17
going to say, I cant see that having turned in some time
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Jan 17
@JudyEv oops, called you old! hehehe
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jan 17
@Jessicalynnt Did you? I thought you were talking to somewhere else. :)
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
4 Jan 17
The photo is beautiful and it's a great landmark that tells about the place's culture.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
4 Jan 17
@JudyEv Yeah, i like going to places where i could see old things like this that has a lot of story behind it.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37716)
• Philippines
4 Jan 17
It's very old landmark. Interesting.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
4 Jan 17
Whoa, that is beautiful! I remember a water wheel near where I lived as a child and last I saw, it was still turning.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51499)
• Philippines
4 Jan 17
They should find a way to preserve the wood. That is something worth to visit something that was built more than a hundred years ago.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jan 17
Yes, there isn't much in Australia that is really ancient so it's important to keep what we can.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
4 Jan 17
I hate to see landmarks that are part of many people's memories go dormant- I love to see them going as strong as they were- perhaps the spring will rise again although it doesn't seem likely unless you receive a heck of a lot of rain!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
14 Jan 17
@JudyEv Yes, makes a great landmark and a good memory!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
4 Jan 17
Totally beautiful. Thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
1 Feb 17
From the calcification my guess is that there are a lot of minerals in the water.
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 17
It is fascinating to watch a water-wheel in action and incredible to think it can pump water over quite some distance.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Jan 17
That is neat and I like the "stained" colors on the rock.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
4 Jan 17
Very cool landmark and a great piece of history. It is great that you got to see it when it was a working water wheel.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 17
It hasn't done badly, has it? Now it has calcified perhaps it will last for ever - more or less. :)
