The Barwon River Aqueduct

Review: Ruins — A Guide to Conservation and Management

Published by the Commonwealth of Australia (2013)
Reviewed by Michael O’Donnell

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/ruins.pdf

In 2013, the Heritage Chairs and Officials of Australia and New Zealand (HCOANZ) published Ruins: A Guide to Conservation and Management, a thoughtful and timely work that challenges assumptions about how we treat deteriorating heritage structures. Rather than seeing ruins as failures, eyesores, or too far gone, the guide argues that they are valuable in their own right — carriers of memory, culture, and meaning, even in a fragmentary state.

For Geelong, this guidance could not be more relevant. The Barwon River Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct — decommissioned in 1993 and now in a deteriorating condition — is one of Australia’s most striking and rare industrial relics. Built between 1913 and 1915 using the Considère system of reinforced concrete, the aqueduct is unique in scale, form and engineering history. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and has long been admired by engineers, historians, artists and community groups.

Yet today, its future is in doubt. In March 2025, Barwon Water announced its intention to apply for a permit to dismantle most of the structure. This proposal, if enacted, would see a near-total loss of what many believe to be a monument of national significance. The aqueduct’s plight throws into sharp relief the questions explored in Ruins — and what it means to care for places that no longer serve their original function but still matter.

Understanding Ruins — and Why They Matter

The guide defines a ruin as a place that has lost its function and is in significant physical decline — but not necessarily without value. Indeed, the authors encourage us to recognise ruins as sites of technical, aesthetic, archaeological or symbolic importance.

They note that ruins may be large or small, urban or remote, accidental or long-abandoned. What unites them is their capacity to evoke memory, emotion, or historical insight. In the case of the Barwon Aqueduct, all of these qualities apply. Its monumental spans evoke admiration and wonder; its materials speak to early 20th-century innovation; its quiet decay invites reflection on changing attitudes toward infrastructure, environment and preservation.

The guide is particularly clear that ruins should not be judged by what is missing — but appreciated for what remains. That principle is directly applicable to the Barwon Aqueduct, whose partial decay does not diminish its significance, but rather deepens it.

The Challenge of Stewardship

One of the central themes of Ruins is the difficulty of managing heritage sites that have lost both function and commercial value. Ruins rarely generate income, may lack clear ownership, and often present safety, liability or maintenance issues. In the case of the Barwon Aqueduct, this tension is acute: Barwon Water is a utility provider, not a heritage agency, and has argued that the cost and complexity of conservation is beyond its remit.

The guide acknowledges these realities but argues that they must not lead to default demolition. Instead, it encourages a case-by-case assessment — one that involves engineers, heritage professionals, communities and, where appropriate, government intervention. The aqueduct clearly fits that model. It requires a solution that balances public safety with cultural value — and one that involves actors beyond its current owner.

Five Ways Forward

The guide outlines five possible approaches to ruin management:

• Reactivation: Bringing the site back into use.
• Reconstruction: Restoring or rebuilding elements.
• Maintenance in Ruin: Stabilising the structure in its current state.
• Letting Go: Allowing controlled, natural decay.
• Recording Before Loss: Documenting places that cannot be saved.

Not all approaches will suit every case. In the Barwon Aqueduct’s situation, many believe that “maintenance in ruin” is the most appropriate path: stabilising core sections — especially at the river crossing — and incorporating interpretive elements within the proposed “Porronggitj Karrong” parklands. This would preserve the structure’s aesthetic, historical and social value while addressing safety risks. It would also allow the aqueduct to serve as a compelling centrepiece — not a casualty — of Geelong’s evolving river landscape.

A Resource with Local Relevance

Ruins: A Guide to Conservation and Management is more than a technical manual. It is a reminder that cultural heritage comes in many forms — not all of them pristine, polished, or easy to manage. For Geelong, where the Barwon Aqueduct hangs in the balance, this guide offers both caution and inspiration. It calls for imagination, courage, and shared responsibility.

The Geelong Historical Society encourages all who care about our region’s past — including local residents, heritage bodies, and decision-makers — to consider the principles outlined in this guide. The aqueduct’s survival should not rest on a single organisation’s capacity or funding limitations. It should reflect a broader commitment to understanding, respecting and preserving the layered story of our place.