Enoggera Dam
Encyclopedia
The Enoggera Dam, which is located within the inner, western suburb of Enoggera Reservoir
, in Brisbane
, Queensland
, and 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 having been built in Victoria). 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.
It was managed by the Brisbane City Council until July 2008, but is now managed by Seqwater.
and Roma Street, suffered from accumulation of dead animals and vegetable manner.
Dry periods pronounced water quality problems in both Enoggera Dam and Gold Creek Dam
built after the Enoggera reservoir was completed. The Mount Crosby Weir
and pumping station alleviated some concerns but flooding of the Brisbane River was problematic. It was not until 1912 that water from Enoggera Dam was filtered.
It was decommissioned in 2003, then in early 2006 water from Enoggera Dam was again added to inner north-west Brisbane's drinking water supply, when drought
had reduced South East Queensland
's water supply to critical levels.
, 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 before 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.
Enoggera Creek had a large catchment that rose higher in the D'Aguilar Range and had more smaller creeks flowing into it. The location was steep and heavily timbered. It took eighteen months and ten different contractors to just clear the site.
The Queensland Government didn't have confidence in the Council to supervise the dam's construction. After requesting revised plans and detailed cost estimates the Board of Waterworks was established to oversee the project.
Approval for the dam's construction was given in May 1864. Work began in August 1864 with water flowing by July 1866. A single cast-iron mains pipe, 8 inches (20.3 cm) in diameter, supplied the town of Brisbane. By 1869 the pipelines were extended to a total of eighteen kilometers, benefiting between five to six thousand people.
The original cost was ₤50,000, which was raised to ₤65,000. By the end of 1870 more than ₤71,000 had been spent and water supply for the rapidly growing city of Brisbane was not being met by strong demand. To solve the problem another dam, Gold Creek Dam
was approved in 1881.
A spillway was added in 1976. Seven metres was added to the height of the dam wall for flood mitigation in the same year.
Enoggera Reservoir, Queensland
Enoggera Reservoir is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia located north-west of the CBD and bordering the Moreton Bay Region and The Gap. It contains Peewee Bend....
, in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, and was constructed in 1866. It was built on Enoggera Creek
Enoggera Creek
Enoggera Creek is a waterway that rises on the D'Aguilar Range and flows into the Brisbane River. The creek's headwaters form on the southern slopes of Mount Nebo in Brisbane Forest Park....
and was the first major dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
built in Queensland (it was the second major dam built in Australia — the first major dam having been built in Victoria). It is rare as one of the few remaining examples in Queensland of an intact and functioning reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
and treatment plant
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
from this period in time. The clay cored earthfill dam was designed and built by Joseph Brady.
It was managed by the Brisbane City Council until July 2008, but is now managed by Seqwater.
Water supply
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 StreetGeorge Street, Brisbane
George Street is a main street located in the Brisbane CBD in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A major thoroughfare, George Street connects to the Queensland University of Technology as well as the state Botanical Gardens, to the commercial centre of Brisbane, Queen Street and Queen Street Mall.The...
and Roma Street, suffered from accumulation of dead animals and vegetable manner.
Dry periods pronounced water quality problems in both Enoggera Dam and Gold Creek Dam
Gold Creek Dam
Gold Creek Dam is an earthen dam located on the edge of Brisbane Forest Park on the western outskirts of Brisbane, Australia. The dam holds back Gold Creek Reservoir...
built after the Enoggera reservoir was completed. The Mount Crosby Weir
Mount Crosby Weir
The Mount Crosby Weir is weir on the Brisbane River at Mount Crosby in South East Queensland, Australia. The project was instigated by John Petrie at the end of the 19th century...
and pumping station alleviated some concerns but flooding of the Brisbane River was problematic. It was not until 1912 that water from Enoggera Dam was filtered.
It was decommissioned in 2003, then in early 2006 water from Enoggera Dam was again added to inner north-west Brisbane's drinking water supply, when drought
Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns...
had reduced South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
's water supply to critical levels.
Site selection
Breakfast Creek was rejected by the Water Supply Committee because it was too close to the town. Thomas OldhamThomas Oldham
Thomas Oldham was a Anglo-Irish geologist.He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and studied civil engineering at the University of Edinburgh as well as geology under Robert Jameson....
, 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
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
near Dutton Park
Dutton Park, Queensland
Dutton Park is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 5 km south of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is predominantly residential, with some light industrial and commercial areas....
was dismissed before 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
Augustus Gregory
Sir Augustus Charles Gregory KCMG. was an English-born Australian explorer. Between 1846 and 1858 he undertook four major expeditions.-Early years:...
also suggested a site on Ithaca Creek
Ithaca Creek
Ithaca Creek is a waterway in the Enoggera Creek catchment, in the western suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It arises in in the Taylor Range at the Mount Coot-tha forest with two streams, one arising at J C Slaughter Falls, the other and stronger source being Simpson Falls, the western...
. This location was abandoned because it had a small catchment size.
Enoggera Creek had a large catchment that rose higher in the D'Aguilar Range and had more smaller creeks flowing into it. The location was steep and heavily timbered. It took eighteen months and ten different contractors to just clear the site.
Construction
Approval for the dam's construction was given in May 1864. Work began in August 1864 with water flowing by July 1866. A single cast-iron mains pipe, 8 inches (20.3 cm) in diameter, supplied the town of Brisbane. By 1869 the pipelines were extended to a total of eighteen kilometers, benefiting between five to six thousand people.
The original cost was ₤50,000, which was raised to ₤65,000. By the end of 1870 more than ₤71,000 had been spent and water supply for the rapidly growing city of Brisbane was not being met by strong demand. To solve the problem another dam, Gold Creek Dam
Gold Creek Dam
Gold Creek Dam is an earthen dam located on the edge of Brisbane Forest Park on the western outskirts of Brisbane, Australia. The dam holds back Gold Creek Reservoir...
was approved in 1881.
A spillway was added in 1976. Seven metres was added to the height of the dam wall for flood mitigation in the same year.