Local Government
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Region
Kimberley
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.
Location
Intersect of Ord River & Gt Northern Hwy Kununurra
Location Details
Intersection of Ord Rover and Great Northern Hwy.
Construction Date
Constructed from 1960, Constructed from 1963
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 25 Feb 2005 |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 20 Feb 1997 |
|
||
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place |
|
Heritage Council | ||
Statement of Significance
The Diversion Dam was constructed as the first stage of the Ord River Project. A pumping station built upstream from the dam was a vital part of the project. This allowed the water to be diverted to irrigation channels across the Weber Plains. The dam was built to handle the passage of a huge quantity of water that came down the Ord in the wet season. The Dam was opened by the Prime Minister of Australia Sir Robert Menzies in 1963. This is commemorated by a brass plaque and cairn on the town side of the Dam. Lake Kununurra, the body of water formed by the dam, is used for many recreational purposes - swimming, fishing, yachting and skiing.
Physical Description
A water storage and diversion dam was built as part of Stage I of the Ord River Project. The dam consists of a wide concrete spillway structure with thin vertical piers supporting a two lane roadway, the Great Northern Highway and Victoria Highway that connects Perth with Darwin. Nearby (approx 1 km west) is the Duncan River Bridge. This was built at the same time as the Diversion Dam to enable the completion of the new road from Wyndham to Kununurra and subsequently Darwin.
The dam was designed to serve an area of 30,000 acres. The project was designed and supervised by the Public Works Department of West Australia, and Christiani and Nielson were the major contractors for the dam. The water level in the dam is regulated by 20 gates, approximately 16 metres x 10 metres and weighing 95 tons, which are operated at the side of the bridge above. A pumping station and irrigation channels were also constructed. Once the main dam was built, pumping was no longer necessary.
Integrity/Authenticity
Integnty: All
Modifications: Nil
Condition
Good
State Heritage Office library entries
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11696 | Spectacular recovery in the Ord River catchment | Electronic | 2004 |
| 7779 | Landscape of water resources. | Other | 0 |
Place Type
Historic site
Uses
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Reservoir or Dam |
| Present Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Reservoir or Dam |
Architectural Styles
| Style |
|---|
| Other Style |
Construction Materials
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | CONCRETE | Reinforced Concrete |
Historic Themes
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OCCUPATIONS | Rural industry & market gardening |
Creation Date
14 Nov 1997Publish place record online (inHerit):
ApprovedLast Update
01 Jan 2017Disclaimer
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.