Crown Street Reservoir & Site

Crown Street Reservoir is a water storage facility in Surry Hills with brick perimeter walls built partly into bedrock and raised by earth embankments. Located at 285 Crown Street, the structure still operates today and supplies water to the inner city area.

The reservoir was built in 1859 by engineers Donohoe and Vaughan as part of the Botany Swamps Scheme operating from 1858 to 1886. Its construction marked a turning point in how Sydney managed water supply during the late 1800s.

The reservoir takes its name from its location on Crown Street in the inner city and has been recognized as a significant work of engineering infrastructure. Visitors can see how the structure reflects the Victorian era's approach to managing water supply for a growing urban area.

The site can be viewed from Crown Street and the exterior brick walls are visible from the surrounding footpaths. As a protected structure, internal access may be limited, but the outside offers a clear picture of how it was originally built.

The structure was built using specially imported waterproof bricks designed to resist moisture over time. Most of the original components from 1859 remain in place today, showing the careful craftsmanship of Victorian engineers.