St Johns Wood, Queensland - The Weir

The Weir

As part of Mr Anglim’s vision for the Housing Estate he had the idea to create a recreation area along the banks of the Enoggera Creek and a lake formed by the construction of a small weir across the creek. In August 1928 one of Mr Anglim’s compatriots, Mr Fraser, applied to the Brisbane City Council for approval to build a weir a few chains on the City side of the new bridge entering St John’s Wood and he was to bear the cost of its construction.

In January 1929 Tenders were called for the construction of the weir. Applicants were to apply via Telephone No C 8506 to obtain Tender Documents. Note: The telephone number is that which belongs to Mr Anglim at his Town Hall Office Address (a central town contact is better than out in the country, even though Mr Fraser was the organiser.)

The construction of the weir, according to the Council Minutes, was designed by the Council’s Civil Engineers Department which was a concrete and reinforced steel structure. The creation of this lake proved very popular with the community as many social functions were held as recorded in the newspapers. Those activities were swimming, canoeing, various games of sport and picnics. As part of this two small bathing boxes were erected as change rooms on the flat area close to the edge of the top of the bank. In 1931 a devastating flood in Enoggera Creek occurred under-mining the supporting earth bank at the west end of the concrete weir wall, reducing the water-retaining capacity of the wall and was not able to serve its design purpose – as well the bathing boxes were washed away and were not replaced. History has not recorded the outcome of the weir but it is believed within the community that the structure was dynamited and destroyed some time in the 1940s. The concrete across the floor of the creek which can be seen near the St John’s Wood Scout’s Hall is all that remains of the original weir.