Cressy Water Tower Mural
The Cressy Water Tower was painted by Tim Bowtell in 2024 with murals representing the local history. It features a steam train, aeroplanes from Cressy Aerodrome, a historic aerodrome of World War II, and local flora and fauna.
“Cressy – Our Story”
The Cressy Water Tower stands on the unceded land of the Gulidjan people of the Eastern Maar Nation. Barwon Water acknowledges and respects the Gulidjan people as Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters. We pay respect to their Elders; past and present. We extend that respect to all Eastern Maar citizens and their surrounding Country and recognise all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of this nation. Barwon Water says thank you to the Traditional Custodians for sharing their Knowledge and Culture and for their unceasing care of these lands, waters and skies.
The Cressy Water Tower was built by the Colac & District Water Board and commissioned in 1962. It is now owned by Barwon Water. It remains a crucial part of Cressy’s water supply infrastructure by gravity feeding water into the town’s drinking water network. Renowned Silo Artist, Tim Bowtell, was commissioned to paint the double-sided mural on the Tower. Tim describes this project as one of the more challenging he has worked on given the shape and height of the 60-foot tower and the 365-degree nature of the work.
Front Column – WOADY YALOAK RIVER
Frenchman Jean Duverney (or D’ Auvergnay) arrived in Australia in 1837. During his travels he camped on the Woady Yaloak River and it is was here he settled. Early records state he obtained a licence for land known as the Frenchman’s Run. Finding that most travellers crossed the river at this point, Duverney built a rest house which then became the Frenchman’s Inn. As it became busy with many teamsters hauling their wool to Geelong, he was granted a licence in 1841, the first hotel licence to be granted in Victoria.
The town of Cressy was named after Crecy in France, Duverney’s hometown. The Woady Yaloak River is now crossed by a bridge and here you observe the River Red Gums growing along the edge, as can be viewed in the mural. This variety of River Red Gums is unique to the Woady Yaloak River as they are more tolerant of brackish water. The bird is a Nankeen Kestrel commonly seen in Cressy and the surrounding district. If you look closely at the bottom of the mural you can see what the Kestrel has spotted.
Front Barrel – HAWKER DEMON
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) established the No 1 Armament Training Station at Cressy in 1938. It was here that pilots were trained before going into combat. By October 1939, four Hawker Demon planes were located at the base. They were used for towing the target for gunnery training. One of the first Hawker Demon aircraft to be camouflaged in 1941 was A1-1 complete with fin flash. It remained here from February 1940 until April 1942. Training also concentrated on gunnery training for squadron units. In April 1942 the No1 Armament School was disbanded, personnel were merged into the General Reconnaissance School with the course including submarine searching and ship spotting and recognition.
Rear Column – STEAM TRAIN
The Beeac-Newtown-Ballarat line opened on September 25, 1911 and on August 8, 1913, Gheringhap to Cressy to Maroona line was officially opened. Cressy then became a four-way railway junction, with the north and south line from Ballarat to Colac and the east and west line from Geelong to Maroona. The station included a large station office, elevated signal box and refreshment rooms on a 400-foot long island platform. Goods shed and platform, livestock loading facilities and yards were opposite. A locomotive turntable, coal stage and water facilities were located at the eastern end of the station. The signal box was one of the largest outside of the metropolitan area and in February, 1916, 26 trains arrived an departed in one day. The train in the mural – D3-639 – was built at the Newport workshops and entered service in 1903. In the mid-1950’s it was the Commissioner’s Train which carried the Victorian Railways Commissioner around Victoria to carry out inspections.
Cressy is a rural town surrounded by rich farming land. Beneath the train you will observe wheat which represents the cereal crops that are grown by farmers in the local district.
Rear Barrel – MKV SPITFIRE
Between July 1943 and December 1945, the RAAF Base became the Central Gunnery School and this is when the MK V Spitfires arrived at Cressy. Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader, William (Jack) Storey was appointed in 1942 to write the syllabus to train the fighter pilots over a six-week course in the finer points of combat. Exceptional and experienced pilots with a tour of duty behind them were selected to attend. During this time, Cressy became known as the ‘top gun’ course in Australia. In 2019, the RAAF Base was opened as the Cressy Aerodrome.
Location
19 New Station Street, Cressy 3322 View Map
Web Links
→ Cressy Water Tower Mural on Facebook
