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Maintaining Melbourne: Scienceworks Pumping Station Tour
The Spotswood Sewerage Pumping Station is recognised as one of Australia’s foremost industrial heritage sites. Marvel at the quality of its superb Second French Empire style architecture, then travel inside the buildings to learn about the remarkable collection of early steam and electric-powered pumping technology and associated historic engineering equipment from the Scienceworks team.
Uncover the stories behind the Historic Pumping Station at Scienceworks that turned 'Smellbourne' back into Melbourne. The Spotswood Pumping Station was built in the 1890s as a key component of the Melbourne Sewerage Scheme. Functioning as the heart of the system, the pumping station played a vital role in helping to overcome the city's early public health and sanitation problems. Although it's no longer actively pumping, a quarter of Melbourne's sewerage still passes beneath the Pumping Station. This guided tour is full of stories of old Melbourne, Victorian engineering feats and fascinating things about the service we like to forget – sewerage.
Presented as part of Open House Melbourne 2025: Stories of the City
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ACCESSIBILITY
Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
