As was stated earlier plumbers were not in the early arrival of settlers to this colony and work related to water or sewage was usually carried out by labourers under the supervision of a government appointed engineer or architect.

There was a definite need for alternative sites for water and sewerage systems as well as bodies to administer and formalise the health standards of the colony. There was a crying out for plumbers to be trained to be responsible and accountable for the health of the citizens of the town of Sydney.

We had in existence by 1833, as a result of any appointment by Governor Darling, the ground work for the introduction of a proper sewerage system.

Cesspits were the accepted means of sanitation used by the lower classes with the overflow from these pits allowed flow into the streams that made up the Tank Stream.

The well-to-do of the day used water closets, with the waste being washed to open drains and then into the Tank Stream.

From our knowledge now of the harm that comes to a community of people living in unsanitary conditions, it is not hard for us to be able to imagine the state of Sydney town and why so many people died as a result of these conditions.

These health catastrophes forced administrators to act positively in order to eradicate rats and vermin and to provide approved sanitary and water supplies.

Eighteen hundred and forty two saw the appointment of Sydney Municipal Council and in 1843 a city surveyor, James Aird, whose job it was to survey the city and then lay water pipes for supply to various parts of the city.

Aird was also charged with the task of efficiently and effectively draining the city.

With the laying of the water mains, about seventy houses were immediately connected to the mains, for their water as opposed to collecting it in a drum. These pipes were connected from a 9 inch main, which was constructed of iron, to the house and a charge was made of 5/- per room per annum, for the use of the laid-on-water.

From the water main a number of fountains were located for occupants of residences not connected to the water supply to be able to draw water for their use and at no charge.

For some years prior to the laying of these mains and associated plumbing work men had, by necessity, begun to learn some practical skills to enable them to install functioning plumbing systems.

It is worth noting that with the city council receiving its charter to take control of the affairs of Sydney in 1842, (Act of Parliament) within two years we saw water fitting licences to thirteen plumbers - one licensee was a woman. It would appear that these were the first licences issued by the council.

The first licence issued by the Gas Company was to a William Bourne in 1839. (AGL Co. records)

Even in these early days of the colony the plumber was involved in a variety of tasks connected with a dwelling. He was concerned with some or all of the following:

1. Connecting of water be it from the main or a tank
2. Fixing of roofing iron, gutters, downpipes and valleys
3. Flashing, using lead, for chimneys and roofing
4. Connecting of the dwelling to the sewer - the first sewer was ready for connection in 1859
5. Connecting of gas for cooking or lighting

An act passed in 1880 (Act of Parliament) brought into being the Board FO Water Supply and Sewerage. This act gave authority and responsibility to the Minister for Public Works to carry out the upper Nepean Scheme for Water Supply.

Notices appeared in daily newspaper relating to matters concerning the community well-being on a regular basis.

One such notice appeared in the "Sydney Morning Herald", dated Monday, 4 December 1882. Its heading: "Testing Drains". The article pointed out the importance of smoke testing of drains connecting to the sewer in order to locate open or incorrectly fitted pipework. The work went on to give an example of recent faulty work in a general hospital at Wolverhampton, England.

The comments made in this article had a bearing on future considerations by inspectors in Sydney when inspecting plumber's work.

Trade unions were established in Australia in the 1830's. Trades establishing organisations were tailors, bakers, cabinet makers and upholsterers in 1833; compositors, 1835; shipwrights, 1837; carpenters and jointers, 1841. (Australia New Zealand Encyclopaedia)

By 1850 most trades had unions. Representatives of these unions met fortnightly as the Trades and Labour council. Minutes from these meetings were published in the "Sydney Morning Herald". In 1882 general elections were held, and a committee was formed, including a member from the "United Plumbers and Gasfitters" Union. (Sydney Morning Herald, 24 November 1882)

The committee had been formed with the express purpose of promoting the acceptance of technical education, for those involved in trades, so that their members may become better informed and trained in the near future.

Friday, 24 November 1882, in the "Sydney Morning Herald" saw a comment from the president of the Trades and Labour Council, Mr Poole, the progress was being made in discussion with the Board of Technical Education.