Public Works Department (Western Australia)

The department was instrumental in the success of Western Australia, aiding in transforming it from a colonial settlement to a prosperous state.

Construction of infrastructure in the Swan River colony was originally overseen by Henry Willey Reveley,[4][5] an English civil engineer.

Reveley arrived at the colony in 1829 and was initially employed without pay, however in 1830 the matter was raised and a salary awarded retrospectively.

Reveley's position was downgraded after his departure and his replacement, Henry Trigg, was given the title of Superintendent of Public Works.

He held this role from 1839 until 1851, with most of his early work focused on jetties, The Perth Causeway and the Rottnest Island settlement.

Recommendations made in 1884 were implemented in 1885 which resulted in John Arthur Wright being appointed as Director of Public Works and Engineer in Chief.

For a considerable time, the department was housed in buildings adjacent to and extending west from The Barracks Arch in Perth.

and Metropolitan Water Board moved into new office accommodation at Dumas House, on Kings Park Road in West Perth.

Most country towns had depots and offices designed to service staff based regionally, which were built to cater for the specific tasks of the workforce.

The project was overseen by Richard John Anketell who set up a workforce comprising nine construction parties, 189 camels and 128 horses.

was also responsible for providing mechanical and electrical services to numerous agricultural research stations based remotely around Western Australia.

These tasks were later handled by: The department was responsible for the construction of Fremantle Harbour and many other smaller regional jetties and wharves.

Some notable buildings were: In the wake of the breakup of the P.W.D., these roles were assumed by: See also List of railways constructed by the Public Works Department of Western Australia The department built and maintained minor railways which serviced regional infrastructure (generally wharves).

Water and sewerage services in Western Australia were split when the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Board took over responsibility for the metropolitan region while the country areas remained serviced by the P.W.D.

The Metropolitan Water supply Sewerage and Drainage Board were based at Loftus Street Leederville with the head office remaining there, in 1977 the workshops were relocated to Lemnos Street Shenton Park with Mechanical Fitting,(both on site and workshop based), Machining, Welding, Drawing, Automotive Mechanical, instrument sections, sheetmetal, and separate pipe line maintenance crews.