Paddington Water Tower

Paddington Water Tower is a concrete structure at 16 Garfield Drive featuring an elevated tank supported by twelve reinforced columns. The design combines functional engineering with solid construction intended to serve elevated residential areas with reliable water supply.

The structure was built in 1927 by the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to deliver water to elevated areas of Brisbane. It arose from the practical need to pump water against gravity across hillside locations.

The tower's modest cottage nearby housed the operator who managed water distribution, reflecting how essential workers lived on-site as part of daily operations in early 20th-century Brisbane. This arrangement shows how infrastructure required constant human presence to function before automation.

The site is accessible from the street, with its hilltop location making the structure visible from a distance. The spot works best as a walking visit and offers good views of the surrounding Paddington neighborhood.

The structure sits at 335 feet (102 meters) above sea level on Archibald's Hill and has remained virtually unchanged since its construction. This preservation means visitors see the same engineering solution that solved Brisbane's water challenges nearly a century ago.