Local Government
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Region
Kimberley
approx 40 km upstream from Kununurra
Top Dam
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Kimberley
Constructed from 1972, Constructed from 1969
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 20 Feb 1997 | ||
The top dam is the second stage of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme first proposed in the late 1950s. It is the culmination of a joint State and Federal Government exercise to harness the energy of the Ord River. The top Dam supplies water to the Diversion Dam, from which the supply of water for irrigation is controlled. The water is sent to the Weber and Packsaddle Plains for irrigating a large variety of crops. The dam has now became a focus for tourism and in the future will be a hydro electricity site. The water body formed by the top dam is known as Lake Argyle.
The dam wall is 250 feet high and 1,100 feet wide at the crest. It is constructed with 2.4 million yards of rockfill. A separate spillway a fair distance from the dam, 7,000 feet long and 90 feet deep, provided some of the rock for the wall. Tunnels through the rock at the side of a hill enable water to be released as needed. The intake structure is steel and concrete. Excess material formed a downstream beach for a rest area, and for viewing the dam.
Modifications: Addition of hydro facilities (planned from onset)
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dravo Pty Ltd | Architect | 196 | 1972 |
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Plans | |||
| Newspaper article | |||
| Photos and video of building of dam at Historical Society. |
Other Built Type
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Reservoir or Dam |
| Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Reservoir or Dam |
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.