Pumby Brush Walk

Pump site

Although there is plenty of water around the Homestead, getting it up the hill posed a problem. There are three pumping systems here, representing different eras of Tocal.

The oldest, established by the Reynolds family, is a pump powered by a horseworks similar to the one in the photograph below. The horse was harnessed to the arm. As the horse walked around the horseworks the captsan turned the gears and drove the pump. The bank of the river where the horse once walked has slipped away so it is difficult today to see the large area needed for the system to operate.

The next pumping system was established by the Alexanders and was driven by an electric motor. In times of flood the motor was removed and placed on a small trolley, which ran up the wooden rails to escape the flood. The winching mechanism and rails are all still visible.

The third system, established by the Curtis sisters, used a jet pump located in the brick stables with two polythene pipelines coming down to the creek. A newer version of this pump was installed in 2003.

At right: a horseworks similar to the one on Webbers Creek which was used to pump water to Tocal Homestead.

At right: the actual horseworks you can see on Webbers Creek while on Pumby Brush Walk.

Walk the walk: you can walk along Pumby Brush walk when Tocal Homestead is open to the public (Homestead admission fee applies) - opening details.