Abandoned Water & Fuel Storage Tanks

July 7, 2015

Urban Exploring: Dobby’s Lair

Set back in a field outside Adelaide lies a secret tunnel.

That tunnel leads into a secret underground WWII bunker we like to call, Dobby’s Lair.

Hidden under a grassy hill, Dobby’s Lair would have been built sometime in the 1940s, for Australia‘s war effort, and decommissioned soon after. No longer needed for military purposes, it is now utilised as storage space.

The windowless bunker is built from steel-reinforced concrete, and has only one entrance.

Off-limits to the public, we were kindly allowed access to photograph this old war-time structure…

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January 23, 2014

Urban Exploring: McElligotts Sarcophagus

McElligotts Sarcophagus is a rare example of Australian colonial water storage technology. Discovered underground in 2002, this 19th century water storage tank held 270,000 gallons of water and serviced surrounding suburbs.

The tank is constructed of brick with a concrete floor and cast iron columns supporting a corrugated iron vaulted concrete roof. Cast iron ventilators penetrate the roof at ground level.

A dwarf wall divides the tank in two enabling one side to be cleaned while the other remained in service.

McElligotts Sarcophagus is the only existing tank of its kind. A similar tank was constructed at Burnside but has since been ruined by the Burnside City Council.

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September 1, 2013

Urban Exploring: The Water Tower

An old decommissioned water tower sits disused, currently being used as a cell phone tower.

Before mains water was supplied to homes in Adelaide, the community relied on tank water and water vendors; as water shortages often occurred during the dry months.