HAVE you seen these buckets?
Healesville Lions Club is searching for one of the colossal steel buckets that were used to construct Maroondah Reservoir between 1920 and 1927.
Healesville Lions Club President Paul Walker said the club was looking for one of the steel buckets, of which 84 were used to construct the Maroondah Reservoir, for a special 150th anniversary project for the town.
“It’s at its early planning stages,” Mr Walker said.
“The club came up with an idea to make some sort of commemorative project to do with the making of the Maroondah Reservoir – a significant part of Healesville.
“We’re trying to organise some sort of sculptural-type display, and somehow incorporate one of the big steel buckets.”
Mr Walker said the buckets were roughly as big as cars, and were used to carry cement to the reservoir’s construction team from Healesville Railway Station, via an aerial ropeway.
The ropeway meant that the steel buckets – 42 carrying cement, 42 empty – could travel above power-lines and houses in the town on their way to the reservoir’s construction site.
The 84 buckets travelled around 3.6 kilometres on the ropeway, which was powered by a steam plant, at an average speed of three miles per hour – around 4.8 kilometres per hour.
Mr Walker said that the Lions Club would like to hear from anyone who knows the whereabouts of any of the steel buckets, and that the club would have to look at an alternative concept if none surfaced.
Those with information on the buckets can contact President Paul Walker on 5962 6319.
The Lions Club’s project is part of the celebrations for Healesville’s 150th anniversary, which will take place over the year and culminate in November.
For more information, visit www.healesville150.org.
