Crystal Brook Waterworks

Crystal Brook has long been an important centre for the water supply in the Mid North of South Australia. Copper was discovered at Kadina in 1860 and water supply was immediately a problem; groundwater in the Copper Triangle (Wallaroo, Moonta, Kadina) was very salty and the area was not suited for building dams. Water was eventually piped from Beetaloo Dam near Crystal Brook. Water supply for Pt Pirie and Pt Augusta was also very limited, and when Whyalla was developed a pipeline to the Iron Triangle (which includes these three cities) had to be built from the Murray River at Morgan. Much of the construction was based at Crystal Brook.