In 1826, Busby recommended that water from the Lachlan Swamps be delivered to a reservoir at the Racecourse (now Hyde Park) via a tunnel (or 'bore').

It would supply the "rising capital of Australia", as Sydney was described in the Report of a Committee of the Legislative Council appointed to enquire into the state of the tunnel and outstanding wage claims in 1837.

Lord Bathurst, then Secretary of State, appointed him as Mineral Surveyor and Civil Engineer with particular attention to "the management of coal mines [and] in supplying the Town of Sydney with water".

However, his major task was to undertake surveys with a view to obtaining a permanent and adequate water supply for Sydney.

[1] During Busby's time at Newcastle, the Sydney domestic water still came from the virtually defunct and certainly highly polluted Tank Stream and a spring at Ultimo and another near Oxford Street.

Between 50 and 140 were employed working 24 hours a day in three eight-hour shifts, a common practice in mining since it prevented an unnecessary buildup of underground water.

He also complained of their "vicious, drunken and idle habits" and alleged that they were often absent as they preferred to work illicitly on their own account in the town.

[1] Starting in 1844, reticulation pipes were laid, allowing houses to be connected, as well as the establishment of a number of public fountains.

In 1872, the Bore was cleaned and some irregularities removed, increasing the tunnel flow to about 4.5 megalitres (160×10^3 cu ft) per day.

Municipal instructions were discussed for the colony in the early 1830s but met with fears in the community that such institutions would impose a burden of taxes or levies.

The Sydney Corporation endeavoured to squeeze as much revenue as possible from Busby's Bore and ignored public demands for planning towards the development of new and more suitable sources.

[1] The length of time to complete the bore, that it relied on the simple mechanism of mechanical feed and that it and its successor, the Botany Bay Swamps Scheme, tied up land suitable for industrial development in water reserves had a significant impact on the shape and development of Sydney.

[11] In 1934, part of the Bore under Oxford Street was filled with sand to remove the risk of subsidence under the tram lines.

[15][1] Key dates include:[10][1] As at 10 September 1997, Busby's Bore is a unique engineering achievement which played a crucial role in the development of urban Sydney.

[20][1] Busby's Bore was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.

It highlights the Colonial Government's lack of interest in managing the problems caused by Sydney's fast growing urban population.

[21][1] The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

[22][1] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The intactness of this early 19th century, convict built water supply makes it a rare survivor from this period within urban Sydney.