Enoggera Dam

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°E / -27.4473; 152.927Coordinates: 27°26′50″S 152°55′37″E / 27.4473°S 152.927°E / -27.4473; 152.927
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.