History of the Zig Zag Railway Dams

Dargan’s Creek History

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1866 – 1869 - The Lithgow Zig Zag is constructed. The descent to the Lithgow Valley is originally proposed by means of a tunnel, however this is beyond the resources of the Colonial Government at the time. As a result, the Engineer-in-Chief of the NSW Railways selects the zig zag method of ascent and descent. Railway building is carried out upon the most economical lines, resulting in steep grades and sharp curves.

1901 – The New South Wales Legislative Assembly discusses a proposed deviation of the Main Western Railway to replace the Lithgow Zig Zag, which had become dangerous (especially with increased traffic on the western line) and which limited the length of goods trains over the mountains. The proposed deviation, referred to as the “Ten Tunnels Deviation”, takes a more circuitous route and involves the construction of ten tunnels between Newnes Junction and what is now known as Zig Zag Station. It is intended that the Ten Tunnels Deviation will obtain a grade of 1 in 90, providing a better means of descent into the Lithgow Valley. The Legislative Assembly ultimately decides to refer the proposal to the Public Works Committee.

1906 - The Act approving the construction of the Ten Tunnels Deviation is passed by the New South Wales Parliament.

1908 – Work on the Ten Tunnels Deviation commences, with tunnelling activities carried out by day and night. Supplies to the line during construction are provided by a funicular railway. The tunnels are driven through solid sandstone. The tunnel portals are elliptically shaped, with concrete used for floor and up to the start of the arch and with brickwork used for the arches. The tunnels themselves are of masonry (brick) construction.

1910 – The Ten Tunnels Deviation is completed, at a final cost of approximately 350,000 pounds. Upwards of 1,500 workers are employed throughout the construction and, when the workers move to the next project at Glenbrook, the population of Clarence declines rapidly. The deviation successfully reduces the track gradient from 1 in 40 to 1 in 90, thereby allowing a doubling in the loads of trains. It also lessens the journey to and from the west by about 30 minutes. The Ten Tunnels Deviation continues to be in use today.

1927 – The Orange Land Board District decides to grant a licence to the Railway Commissioners of New South Wales for the construction of a dam on Dargan’s Creek and installation of a pump on the left bank of the creek. The work consists of a concrete dam about 39 feet high and is for the purpose of supplying water to the steam trains.

1943 - The Commissioner for Railways proposes to erect additional dams and pumps on Dargan’s Creek for the Railway Department and the State Mine.

1944 – The Commissioner for Railways applies for variation of its water licence. A number of Hartley orchardists and graziers oppose the application, claiming that the water position has deteriorated during the years the dam had been constructed and any additions to the dams already constructed on Dargan’s creek will seriously prejudice their water supplies. The Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission decides to grant a licence to the Commissioner for two dams, four weirs, five pumps and pipelines for a term of 10 years on condition that provision be made for the charge of not less than 500,000 gallons on water per week into Dargan’s Creek for the purpose of augmenting the natural flow of that creek and confluent streams.

1945 – The new railway dam at Dargan’s Creek is completed, ensuring an adequate water supply for the railway.

1987 – 590 hectares are reserved for public recreation, creating the Dargan Creek’s Reserve. The Reserve is placed under the care, control and management of the Lithgow Heritage Lands Trust, made up of six trustees.

1988 – The Reserve is placed under the care, control and management of the Central Tablelands Heritage Lands Trust, made up of seven trustees.

1999 – The Ten Tunnels Deviation is listed on the State Heritage Register for its high level of technical significance as a large-scale engineering achievement of the early 20th century.

2000 – The reservation status of the Reserve is revoked due to access issues relating to the dams and rock-climbing areas through the Reserve. The land becomes vacant crown land.

2007 – The Department closes the Reserve due to high-risk issues associated with the dams such as trip hazards, exposed metal edges and unfenced dam walls. A gate is installed at the entrance to block vehicle access. The community is strongly opposed to closing the Reserve and the gate is vandalised and removed.

The Department commissions a structural assessment of the dams by the Dams Safety Committee, which finds that both the upper and lower dams are in satisfactory condition however there are significant risks to the public as a recreational area. The Dams Safety Committee recommends the installation of a number of safety fences and locked gates to prevent the public from accessing the dam walls. As a result, the Department installs gates across the dam walls and signage to make people aware of the risks in the area.

2008 – With some of the safety risks now addressed, the Reserve is re-gazetted for Public Recreation under the management of Dargan Creek Reserve Trust.

2018 – The Dargan Creek Reserve Trust becomes the “Dargan Creek Reserve Land Manager” by operation of the Crown Land Management Act 2016.

2019-2020 – The Reserve is badly affected by bushfire during the 2019/2020 bushfire season.

History of the Recreational Asset

Dargan Creek Reserve (R1014490) was originally gazetted as R190027 for Public Recreation on 9 December 1988 and was under the care, control and management of the Central Tablelands Heritage Lands Trust (CTHLT). The Reserve has a history of being used for recreation; specifically swimming in the disused dams and rock climbing. The disused dams were historically used for supplying water to the steam trains at the Zig Zag Railway located north of Dargan Creek Reserve, on the other side of Chifley Road. The dams are used as a popular swimming hole by local residents. The climbing occurs on various cliffs within and adjacent to the Reserve such as ‘Cosmic County’, the ‘Dam Cliffs’ and the ‘Freezer’.  There has been a long history of access issues relating to the dams and rock climbing areas through the Reserve. Because of these issues the status was revoked on 12 May 2000 and the land became vacant crown land and was no longer under the management of CTHLT. In January 2007 Department closed the Reserve after being made aware of the high risk issues associated with the dams. The Department conducted a risk assessment which identified that there were significant hazards present that could result in serious harm to people using the dams such as trip hazards, exposed metal edges and unfenced dam walls. The Department closed the Reserve and asked RailCorp to install a gate at the top of the easement to block vehicle access. The community was strongly opposed to closing the Reserve and the gate was vandalised and removed. The Department had also received requests from commercial operators for access licences to continue commercial trips into the Reserve. In accordance with the Dams Safety Act 1978, the Department commissioned GHD to conduct a structural assessment of the dams. The assessment found that both the upper and lower dams were in satisfactory condition however highlighted that there were significant risks to the public as a recreational area. The DSC recommended the installation of a number of safety fences and locked gates to prevent the public from accessing the dam walls. They also recommended the removal of disused steel infrastructure and undertaking routine safety surveillance. The Department addressed these risks by installing gates across the dam walls and signage to make people aware of the risks in the area. Signage was vandalised and not all of the safety recommendations have been implemented due to limited funds.  As a result of the ongoing access issues, the Department organised a community consultation at Clarence on 27 November 2007 facilitating a discussion about access issues, risk associated with the dams and other conflicting use issues. There is no formal record of the outcomes of this meeting however the need for a Plan of Management for Dargan Creek Reserve was raised. On 29 February 2008 the Reserve was re-gazetted for Public Recreation under the management of Dargan Creek Reserve Trust which was later changed to the Dargans Creek Land Manager.

The Dargans Creek Reserve Land Manager board have been working on improving facilities, improving road access, development of a fire management plan and undertaking rehabilitation of endangered shrub swamp areas.

Visitors to the Dargans Creek Reserve are reminded of the risks involved in undertaking recreational activities within the reserve particularly swimming and rock climbing and that persons utilizing the reserve  are responsible for their own safety. Signage has been erected warning of these risks but some of these signs have been removed and vandalized. The Reserve Land Manager is committed to replacing these signs as funding permits but would like to use this web site as a further reminder and give notice of the risks in recreational activities within this wonderful reserve.