While it has been generally accepted that the upper reaches of the Moorabool River have been spring fed there has always been some debate about whether or not the lower section would completely dry out under natural conditions.
It was therefore interesting to come across a newpaper article from the 1920s that talked about the river drying out for the "first time within the memory of man".
"Seizing the opportunity of visiting this interesting geological locality of the Moorabool River shortly after the discovery of the fossil, I found the river bed dry for the first time within the memory of man, to be easy walking where formerly there was a fine stream for fishing. The diversion of the head waters, the dry season, and the pumping operations of the Australian Cement Company carried on beneath the level of the stream bed, have all contributed to the present condition of things."
Melbourne Argus Sat 20 Apr 1929
That isn't to say it hadn't gotten close before;
Moorabool River
Owing to the exceptionally dry season the Moorabool River, near Fyansford and at Batesford, and places beyond, is exceptionally low, and in a few parts it is nothing but a succession of waterholes. April rains generally improve the river and make it run, but this year there has scarcely any rain. The river flats are very dry.
Geelong Advertiser: Tue 19 May 1914
Nor that people hadn't been upset by it;
Said Cr. Broom at the Bannockburn Council meeting yesterday: "Have we any control over the water that runs down the rivers?"
Somebody replied "No," whereat Cr. Broom asked again indignantly, "But is anybody entitled to take all the water out of a river?" This time the
reply again was "No."
"Then," asked the Lethbndge Councillor, "Well' someone is taking the water out of the Moorabool River, and leaving it in a string of pot holes
with fish dying on the banks."
"Who is the offender?" asked the shire Secretary, and Cr. Broom indicated the State Rivers and Water Commission and the Geelong Waterworks
Trust. They were not actually taking ihe running water, but their storage dams had locked the water up at the head of the river and the people are not getting it lower down. They should enter a protest. It was not fair to either man or beast. They had locked up water that the people should be getting.
Cr. Gillett said that he had been approached by people who had asked that a public meeting be called to protest against tbe locking up of all the water. Some of it should be allowed to run.
Another councillor had heard that a big weir was to be constructed, and that would be worse.
Geelong Advertiser 11th Febuary 1926
WATER RUNNING TO WASTE.
LAL LAL, Friday.
A movement is on foot to bank Lal Lal
Creek to replenish Ballarat water supply.
Lal Lal Creek is supplied by several never
failing springs, and the water runs to
waste. The Railway Commissioners have
granted permission to construct the bank,
winch will be undertaken immediately. A
pump is to be installed to raise the im-
pounded spring water into the aqueduct.
The Ballarat Water Commission and the Lal Lal
Water Works Company appear to have found them-
selves somewhat at cross purposes, owing to the
difference of opinion existing between them as to the
right of the Commission to cut off the flow of water
from Harry Beale's Swamp. The formation of the
reservoir at the Swamp has diverted the main
source of supply to the Lal Lal Creek, and the
Water Works Company complain of being almost
entirely deprived of water for the supply of the
miners at Dolly's Creek and elsewhere. How the
conflicting interests of the two bodies are to be
treated is of course a matter for lawyers to deter-
mine, and we presume that the Water Works
Company will endeavor to ascertain what the law
has to say in the premises. Indeed, we understand
that counsel's opinion is now being obtained by the
Water Works Company.
The Star Saturday the 18th June 1864
The plight of this river and the recognition of the agents of its demise have been known for well over a hundred years. it is sobering to think how easy repeating those mistakes appear to have been.