The Loddon Company

The River Loddon and Tributaries Water Supply Company race system was one of the longest running privately operated mining water supply networks in Victoria. Construction of the race began in the late 1860s under the direction of Edward Wardle and Mark Amos, and it was soon taken over by the River Loddon and Tributaries Water Supply Company. The race system continued under various guises until it was finally decommissioned in the early 1960s, representing almost a century of operation. The race network is also significant for its association with the Coliban System of Waterworks. In this volume we present the results of archaeological and historical research into the Loddon Company’s water system. The network includes the well preserved remains of inverted siphons from the 1930s, along with dams, tunnels and cuttings. The site and its landscape setting tell us much about the crucial role of water supply in gold mining, the cultural history of mining and the role of gold seekers as water engineers.