Hidden Sydney: a visit to the Tank Stream
It’s strange what makes a tourist attraction. Some, such as the Paris Sewer Museum, are popular with tourists; others, such as London’s disused Tube Stations and Sydney’s Tank Stream, are more of an attraction for residents, being open only on rare occasions with tickets selling out well in advance. Sydney’s Tank Stream has a certain mystique around it. Is it due to the lack of access or is it because it truly is one of Sydney’s hidden gems? Let’s face it, nothing generates interest like a sign saying No Entry! I recall years ago, there was an urban mythology around stealth climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge before it became a legal & commercial tourist attraction.
Back to the Stream. When I say limited, I mean limited. Of the 5000 plus applicants for the April tours, only 160 were granted tickets via a random ballot. So I was feeling pretty smug when I was one of those lucky few to be allocated tickets. The tours are organised by Sydney Living Museums in conjunction with Sydney Water and occur twice a year.
Tank Stream Tunnel entrance, Australia Square
Sydney Water are the owners and managers of the site which is still a working stormwater drain – so tours can be cancelled depending on the weather. You get access only to a small section of the tunnels – they say it’s 60 metres. 60 metres doesn’t sound like much but considering the height constraints it’s enough. Also I don’t know what the rest of the tunnels are like, but the section you get to see is a fascinating cross section built at 3 different stages. The earliest section is from 1789, a section from the gold rush and a modern section from 1965.
Of the 75 minutes you are allocated for your tour over half the time is spent watching a video and having a safety talk as well as being kitted out with safety gear – a harness, boots and hard hat. In fairness a longer period of time in the tunnel would probably not be advisable for anyone too tall. I’m 5′ 6″ and was able to stand about half the time – if I stood in the middle of the water course. My companion wasn’t so fortunate.
Is it worth it, or is it simply scarcity of access that makes the tour so desirable? Probably both. If you’re not into history/engineering/architecture/urbanism I certainly wouldn’t be recommending it. I found it fascinating, seeing the markings on the rocks cut by convicts, the later sections cut by men during the gold rush whose markings are still unexplained – were the letters and numbers carved into the stone a maker’s mark or an indication as to the positioning of the stones? Additionally, the end of the tunnel section you get to see is a very narrow section, built in the shape of an ovum. It’s beautiful. The brickwork may have been designed to be functional but function has a beauty of its own. This is a special one-off experience that does live up to expectations.
Facts
Applications are now open for October’s tours. The tours are run over 2 days so you can book the time and date that is most suitable for you. Tickets cost $35 or $30 for Sydney Living Museum members and concessions.