September 5th, 2025Celebrating 100 years of the Ballarat South Wastewater Treatment Plant
Central Highlands Water is celebrating 100 years of one of the city’s most important pieces of essential infrastructure, the Ballarat South Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This year marks a major milestone in the centennial celebration of Ballarat’s first wastewater facility. To recognise the plant’s decades of service to the Ballarat community, Central Highlands Water will be hosting tours of the plant later in the year to honour the critical role of the facility in serving the community for a century.
Ever wonder what life in our region was like 100 years ago?
While 1925 was not marked by a single defining moment in Ballarat’s history, it was a year of transition, modernisation, and post-war prosperity. Australia was experiencing economic growth and increasing urbanisation, and Ballarat reflected these trends.
The effects of World War I were still being felt, but the country was also entering an era of significant social, economic, and cultural change.
Ballarat in 1925 was a vibrant regional city in Victoria, still shaped by its gold rush heritage but evolving into a more diversified economy and modern society. The city had become a hub for manufacturing, with industries such as textiles, engineering, and brewing playing key roles in the local economy.
Ballarat’s electric tram network, which had been running since 1905, was a major mode of public transport. Trams connected key areas of the city, including the railway station, Lake Wendouree, and Ballarat East. The Ballarat railway station was also a key transport hub, linking to Melbourne and other regional centers.
Roads were improving, but automobiles were still not widespread, and many people still used horse-drawn transport or bicycles.
The Roaring Twenties influence was evident, embracing new fashion trends and music. The Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree were popular social and recreational spots. Her Majesty’s Theatre hosted live performances and the Regent Theatre showed silent films.
Sport was a huge part of community life, with AFL, cricket, rowing, and horse racing being especially popular.
Ballarat High School and St Patrick’s College were key educational institutions. The Ballarat School of Mines (now part of Federation University) continued to provide technical education, particularly in engineering and mining.
Electricity was increasingly common in homes and businesses, though some areas still relied on gas lighting. The radio era was emerging, with the first local broadcasts beginning in Melbourne in 1924. The Ballarat Courier was the primary source of news.
100 Years of Wastewater Innovation: The Legacy of Ballarat South Wastewater Treatment Plant
Imagine a time before modern plumbing, when ‘night soil men’ collected waste from outhouses, transporting it in cans to the city’s first wastewater treatment facility. That facility – now known as the Ballarat South Wastewater Treatment Plant has been serving the community for a century.
A Look Back: How It All Began
In 1922, construction began on Ballarat’s first sewage treatment plant, transforming public health in the growing city. By 1 July 1925, the Ballarat Sewerage Authority officially opened the plant, introducing an advanced system for treating wastewater.
Before the plant’s construction, waste disposal was a slow and messy process. Though properties were gradually being connected to the sewer system, manual collection and disposal were still necessary in the early years. But thanks to the efforts of miners-turned-pipelayers and labourers returning from World War I, Ballarat’s sewerage infrastructure took shape – laying the groundwork for the system we rely on today.
Decades of Growth and Innovation
From its humble beginnings, the facility has continuously evolved:
- 1949: Night soil waste was fed directly into the sewer system.
- 1953: Industrial wastewater from abattoirs, mills, and factories was added to the treatment process.
- 1960s-1980s: The plant expanded significantly with new sedimentation tanks, polishing lagoons, and sludge digesters to improve water quality.
- 986-1988: Upgrades introduced clarifiers, trickling filters, and lime dosing to enhance treatment efficiency.
- 1998: The facility became Australia’s first full-scale BNR (Bacteria Nutrient Removal) plant, pioneering a chemical-free phosphorus removal process.
- 2000s-Present: The plant underwent major refurbishments, lagoon expansions, and sustainability initiatives, including solar energy integration.
Today, BSWWTP treats wastewater from a population of over 85,000 people, using advanced processes to protect public health and the environment.
What’s Next? A Future of Sustainability
While the plant may be 100 years old, it remains at the forefront of innovation. We continue to invest in energy efficiencies, and climate resilience to meet the region’s growing needs. Plans are already in motion for the next major upgrade, ensuring that Ballarat’s wastewater infrastructure remains world-class well into the future.
“This plant is proof of CHW’s commitment to public health and the environment. While it has a long history, continuous upgrades have made it one of the most innovative wastewater treatment plants in Victoria”
History of the Ballarat South Wastewater Treatment Plant
The 1918 Ballaarat City Council’s Report on Sewerage Scheme for Ballaarat City suggested a site of 22 acres below the Mount Pleasant bridge for what is now the 300 acre Ballarat South Wastewater Treatment Plant. The report stated the site was ‘of sufficient area and suitable contour as facilitates reasonably cheap construction’. The plant has grown to become Australia’s first full-scale bacteria nutrient removal (BNR) plant. The ‘disposal works’, as it was originally known, received wastewater from Ballarat’s first 1800 house connections. It consisted of two pre-sedimentation tanks, four open air digestion tanks and an oxidation bed complete with standing sprinklers to disperse the settled effluent. Today, the plant treats over 5500 ML from domestic and business connections.
