Lower Stony Creek Dam
Posted by: 
Na'wal
S 37° 51.179 E 144° 14.761
55H E 257702 N 5806922
This reservoir is still in use and the dam is unchanged. It is Australia's first and the world's third concrete dam.
Waymark Code: WMNXCX
Location: Victoria, Australia
Date Posted: 05/18/2015
Views: 7
The dam wall has the distinction of being the first concrete dam in Australia and the third in the world. It gave Geelong it's first reliable water supply, essential for industrial and commercial growth, public health and protection from fire.
The Sony Creek Dam was started when the Government gave in to a need for reliable supply. In May 1866, they began to build a dam across Stony Creek in the Brisbane Ranges, 40 kilometres north of Geelong. But delays and problems with the work meant that it was not until April 1873 that the first tap was turned on at the Geelong Hospital.
Designed by George Gordon, the Chief Engineer for Water Supply, this was the first gravity dam to which sound design principles were applied. At the time civil engineers relied more on rules of thumb than on mathematical principles. Gordon's design represented a major advancement and served as an example to other engineers around the world.
Dam details;
Height 23.8 m
Length 198 m
Crest Thickness 2.62 m
Base Thickness 16.3 m
Waterway where the dam is located: Stony Creek, Brisbane Ranges National Park
Main use of the Water Dam: Water Supply (Drinkable)
Material used in the structure: Concrete
Height of Dam: 23.8m
Date built: 05/01/1866
Fishing Allowed: no
Motor Sports Allowed: no
|
Visit Instructions:
Photo of the Dam and a description of your visit.