[1] The Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) was created in 1892 and appointed eminent British engineer James Mansergh to advise on a suitable system.
The system included sewer mains from the Melbourne CBD and south-eastern suburbs, extending across Fishermans Bend to a point opposite the pumping station.
It consisted of a cylindrical shield, 3.4 metres (11 ft) in diameter, made of cast iron and steel plate, which was driven into the soft alluvial clays by hydraulic rams.
[1] On the night of 12 April 1895, the shield failed, and the river flooded into the tunnel, drowning a young engineer and five workers.
Three other men were waiting to enter through the air lock, and saw the incident through a small thick glass window, but were unable to do anything.