The image dated 1899 shows men working on one of the intake channels for the Bundaleer Reservoir. Their equipment comprises picks and wheelbarrows. The original title of the image is 'Bundaleer Reservoir - intake channel, 1 mile 1200 links (bottom of puddle trench)'.

The Bundaleer Reservoir near Spalding in South Australia's mid north was built between 1898 and 1903 to service a large area from Snowtown to Port Wakefield. It was one of several major water conservation projects in response to a severe drought in the 1890s. Construction began in 1898 following acquisition of land from several pastoral properties including Bundaleer Station. The reservoir had two intake channels, a weir across the Bundaleer Creek (which flowed continuously), an aqueduct 500 feet long and 50 feet high, and around 15 miles of concrete channels connected to two weirs. The embankment was 400 feet wide at its base and 20 feet wide at the top. At the peak of construction as many as 500 men were employed, but usually there were between 200 and 400 men camped at the headworks with horses and equipment. A pictorial supplement of the reservoir and the sale of plant and equipment that followed its completion was published in the Chronicle, 12 December 1903, p43. See also Chronicle, 12 December 1903, p34.)

Work began at Bundaleer in 1898. Refer "Water South Australia (Hammerton), p.116. (G Brooks) - Note that on microfiche, "Box 12 x 10" refers to size of negatives in inches. (G Brooks)