https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/the-legend-of-c-y-oconnor-and-his-golden-pipeline/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-legend-of-c-y-oconnor-and-his-golden-pipeline Family and Local History of the Goldfields of Western Australia Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:10:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/the-legend-of-c-y-oconnor-and-his-golden-pipeline/#comment-27826 Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:10:30 +0000 https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/?p=21867#comment-27826 Having grown up in Fremantle WA I have always been aware of the history of CY O’Connor & his engineering feats. When in final year in Palmyra primary school , our teacher (also Principal) took us on an excursion. Walked to Fremantle Cemetery to see the gravesite of CY O’Connor, then into Fremantle (I assume by tram) to the wharf which he also engineered. Never forgot that day & the history of a great man. I was aware he came under fire, I guess as most people do when doing something new. He was an engineer & knew what he was doing, his critics were mostly politicians & others who knew nothing about engineering. I had always believed that when the project was finished & taps turned on at Mundaring Weir to send the water to Kalgoorlie, the tap was turned on in Kalgoorlie, but the water didn’t immediatley gush out, so more critics who then said “we said it would never work”. CY O’Connor then when to Coogee beach, into the water on his horse & shot himself. Then of course eventually the water arrived in Kalgoorlie & gushed out of the taps. They had not taken into account how long it would take the water to travel that long distance & after some time, the water did flow & Kalgoorlie was to reap great benefits. Sadly CY O’Connor was not to see his project give Kalgoorlie the great benefits it received. That is how I remember the story, which maybe right or maybe wrong. My father as a 9year old arrived in Kalgoorlie with his parents about 1898, was there until about age 20y when he went to the coast. His mother died in 1909, although due to miscarriages, I am sure the drinking water of Kalgoorlie did not help.

]]> https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/the-legend-of-c-y-oconnor-and-his-golden-pipeline/#comment-27817 Sat, 17 Aug 2024 10:45:31 +0000 https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/?p=21867#comment-27817 Very interesting and inspiring.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Uma

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