Busbys Bore

Government Engineer, John Busby originally considered conveying water from the Lachlan Swamps using iron pipes but assessed this would be too expensive. Finally, he proposed a long tunnel be constructed, entirely through Crown Land, for distribution at what is now Hyde Park. The Lachlan Water Tunnel, better known as Busby's Bore, was Sydney's first piped water supply.

Hopes were high for the colony to have its new clean water supply within a few years, but this was not to be. In 1827 construction of Busby’s Bore commenced with convict labour under Busby’s direction. Twenty-eight shafts were excavated along the line of the tunnel, from Lachlan Swamps to Hyde Park. Difficulties with the rock strata and the use of unskilled workers caused problems for the project – it took ten years to complete.

The "Bore" or tunnel was, on average between 1.7 metres high by 1.4 metres wide. The whole length of the Tunnel was 3.7 km, capable of holding 6.8 megalitres and 15 days' supply of water.

The Busby’s Bore cairn is situated on Grand Drive, Centennial Park just inside the Robertson Road Gates. It is made of sandstone with three bronze plaques. One reads: 'Centenary of the Water Board – unveiled 23rd September 1988. The last shaft site in the sequence of shafts and tunnels is located adjacent to this marker, at the fence.