Enoggera Dam | |
---|---|
Enoggera Dam, at the Brisbane Forest Park, in 2007
|
|
Location of Enoggera Dam in Queensland
|
|
Country | Australia |
Location | South East Queensland |
Coordinates | 27°26′50″S 152°55′37″E / 27.4473°S 152.927°ECoordinates: 27°26′50″S 152°55′37″E / 27.4473°S 152.927°E |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1864 |
Opening date | 1866 |
Construction cost | ₤71,000 |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Clay cored earthfill dam |
Impounds | Enoggera Creek |
Height | 23.5 m (77 ft) |
Length | 475 m (1,558 ft) |
Dam volume | 360×10 3 m3 (13×10 6 cu ft) |
Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
Spillway capacity | 450 m3/s (16,000 cu ft/s) |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Enoggera Reservoir |
Total capacity | 4,500 ML (990×10 6 imp gal; 1,200×10 6 US gal) |
Catchment area | 33 km2 (13 sq mi) |
Surface area | 358.15 ha (3.58 km2) |
Maximum length | 2,376 m (7,795 ft) |
Maximum width | 640 m (2,100 ft) |
The Enoggera Dam is a heritage-listed dam, which is located within the inner, western suburb of Enoggera Reservoir, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
The dam was constructed in 1866. It was built on Enoggera Creek and was the first major dam built in Queensland (it was the second major dam built in Australia — the first major dam, Yan Yean Reservoir having been built in Victoria in 1850). It is rare as one of the few remaining examples in Queensland of an intact and functioning reservoir and treatment plant from this period in time. The clay cored earthfill dam was designed and built by Joseph Brady.
Water supply problems plagued Brisbane's early years. Soon after the Brisbane Municipal Council was established in 1860, a Water Supply Committee was formed. The earliest reservoir in Brisbane, which was located at the intersection of the present George Street and Roma Street, suffered from accumulation of dead animals and vegetable matter.
Breakfast Creek was rejected by the Water Supply Committee because it was too close to the town.Thomas Oldham, an engineer who had worked on water supply to Melbourne, was employed to conduct a survey and solve Brisbane's problems.
One of Oldham's site recommendations on the Brisbane River near Dutton Park was dismissed because of its prohibitive costs. The other site Oldham suggested was selected because it was where Enoggera Creek left the range. The Surveyor-General, Augustus Gregory also suggested a site on Ithaca Creek. This location was abandoned because it had a small catchment size.