Explore the lovingly restored Sale Water Tower (Victoria, Australia)
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The Sale Water Tower provides you with a chance to go inside a historic water storage tower. Prior to my visit to the Sale Water Tower I really didn’t know anything about these important pieces of history. My knowledge was limited to watching shows like Grand Designs were people converted the towers into homes.
So, what is a water tower? A water tower holds water up high and uses gravity to distribute the water. Instead of pumping water to every location, you can pump it to the storage, then distribute via gravity flow. Water towers are still in use today particularly in areas that rely on groundwater.
The Water Tower in Sale was built in 1888 and was used for 82 years to supply 3,000 residents. The tower had a large health benefit for the residents as it meant the commencement of extracting groundwater instead of using water from the Thomson River. The Thomson River was considered unfit for human health due to the impacts of gold mining operations upstream, and receiving wastes from sources such as slaughter houses. The water quality dropped even further in times of low flow and was a concern for public health. I am sure the horses were also happy when they didn’t have to cart river water around the town anymore!
Restoration of the tower commenced in 2016 and is now open to the public every Saturday from 2 – 4pm. Entry is by a gold coin donation.
What to expect
The Sale Water Tower sits proudly in Victoria Park and is a short walk from the main area of Sale. Visiting the tower is a unique opportunity to appreciate how the distribution of water has changed over time, and to appreciate the water systems we have today. I am lucky enough to live in an area that I only have to turn on a tap for fresh, clean, perfect water for appear.
Information boards provide wonderful commentary on the history and restoration of the tower.
The 2 John’s
The Sale Water Tower is in Victoria Park which also hosts amazing sculptures of John Grainger and John Niemann who were both instrumental in the development of the water tower. John Grainger was the architect and civil engineer who designed and built the tower. Whilst John Niemann was responsible for discovering the artesian water supply.
EXPLORE | Looking for more adventures in the Gippsland region? Check out the other Gippsland blog posts for inspiration.
Cost to visit the Sale Water Tower
Cost is gold coin donation.
Getting There
The Sale Water Tower is in Victoria Park on the corner of Marley St and & Cunninghame St in Sale Victoria. This is only a 10 minute walk from the main shopping centre, or from Lake Guthridge.
If you are taking public transport the nearest train station is Sale Train Station and buses stop at the main Gippsland Centre Sale shopping centre.
The Water Tower is also part of the Sale Heritage Walk which takes around 1.5 hours and passes many beautiful buildings.
Self drive is the best option. This also gives you the opportunity to explore the region more.
PLAN | Need car rental? Check out RentalCars.com
When to visit
The Water Tower is open to the public every Saturday from 2 – 4pm. Updated information is available on their Facebook page.
PLAN | Sale is in the state of Victoria which has a varying climate. Read this post for the best time to visit.
How long to visit
Allow at least 1 hour to explore the Water Tower and Victoria Park.
Places to eat
One of the wonderful things about the city of Sale is the ample picnic locations! Choose somewhere near the Water Tower or head to the nearby Port of Sale, Lake Guthridge or the Sale Botanic Gardens.
Alternatively, go into the main Sale town area and find something delicious.
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Where to stay
Ready to rest after a day of exploring? The city of Sale has plenty of options for hotel accommodation, and also has a motor village with cabins including a pet friendly cabin.
Things to do nearby
Combine your visit with:
- Port of Sale Heritage Cruises from the Port of Sale to the Swing Bridge
- Historic Swing Bridge
- Port of Sale for fishing, skate park, playground and picnic areas.
- Gippsland Art Gallery to admire the incredible art and grab a bite to eat at the café.
- Sale Botanic Gardens and Lake Guthridge which have excellent walking tracks and playgrounds.
- Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve with kilometres of tracks and boardwalks to admire the wetlands.
- Aqua Energy leisure centre with indoor and outdoor pools.
Final thoughts
The Sale Water Tower is a delightful building to visit even if you don’t have an interest in history. Climbing the 16 meter tower to stand under the 151,000 litre wrought iron tank is a very unique experience! I recommend combining a visit to the water tower with other Sale attractions such as the Swing Bridge and Port of Sale to craft a beautiful daytrip.
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