OLD DAM ON THE AVON

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22805, 2 September 1939, Page 22

OLD DAM ON THE AVON

REPAIRS BEING MADE NEW SPILLWAY TO STOP EROSION Extensive repairs are now being undertaken to the historic mill dam on the Avon river, near Fendalton road. This dam has supplied water for motive poy/er at Fleming’s flour mill for approximately 70 years—first, fpr a water-wheel, which was a landmark In the city’s earlier days, and, for more than 60 years, for a pelton wheel at the mill. Recently the timber sheathing at the bottom of the dam and the timber spillway has rotted away so much that erosion has been taking place and shingle occasionally poured into the river below at its iorma\ level. Nwj workmen are busy, not only repairing the whole of the. dam itself, but constiucting -a concrete spillway or apron below the dam tp take the force of the water and prevent further erosion of the shingle. The work is being done for Fleming and Company, Ltd., who run the big mill at the top of the race, by Messrs B. Moore and Sons, Ltd. . , . Expensive jarrah sheathing is being used on tha apron and dam repairs. The workmen are using an automatic driver to get this sheathing deep into the bed of the stream. The toe of the spillway is being erected on a twoton beam placed right across the river and anchored in concrete blocks at either side. Much of the piling along the front edge. of the dam has also rotted away and has been letting the shingle through: this will be renewed in jarrah. ~ ' „ The dam itself provides a small waterfall which has for many years excited the interest of .passers-by m Fendalton road. Behind it is backed uo an extensive lake, which, running back through beautiful grounds, is ore of the prettiest stretches along the whole river. The milling company has for years held complete rights for the. use of the river along this stretch, which dams the water up not only along portion of the Avon, but .into the company’s own private jace. The level of the water-above the dam is regulated by gates worked on a small winch, but will not be materially altered by the work now being done there. . ■