Darwin Dam

Darwin Dam
Location of the Darwin Dam in Tasmania
Country Australia
Location West Coast Tasmania
Coordinates 42°12′36″S 145°36′36″E / 42.21000°S 145.61000°E / -42.21000; 145.61000Coordinates: 42°12′36″S 145°36′36″E / 42.21000°S 145.61000°E / -42.21000; 145.61000
Purpose Power
Status Operational
Opening date 1990 (1990)
Owner(s) Hydro Tasmania
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment dam
Impounds off stream
Height 20 metres (66 ft)
Length 700 metres (2,300 ft)
Dam volume 430×10^3 m3 (15×10^6 cu ft)
Spillways 0
Reservoir
Creates Lake Burbury
Total capacity 1,081,420 ML (38,190×10^6 cu ft)
Active capacity 1,065,000 ML (37,600×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area 559 km2 (216 sq mi)
Surface area 53,250×10^3 m2 (573.2×10^6 sq ft)
Website
hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/king-yolande

The Darwin Dam is an offstream earthfill embankment saddle dam without a spillway, located in Western Tasmania, Australia. The impounded reservoir, also formed by Crotty Dam, is called Lake Burbury.[1]

The dam was constructed in 1990 by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS) for the purpose of generating hydro-electric power via the John Butters Power Station.[2]

Darwin Dam from the east, from the air

Features and location

The Darwin Dam, together with the Crotty Dam, are two major dams that form the headwaters for the King River Hydroelectric Power Development. The dam is located at the southern end of Lake Burbury, and holds the water for the lake.

The Darwin Dam wall, constructed with 430 thousand cubic metres (15×10^6 cu ft) of earth core, is 20 metres (66 ft) high and 700 metres (2,300 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 1,081,420 megalitres (38,190×10^6 cu ft) of water. The surface area of Lake Burbury is 53,250 hectares (131,600 acres) and the catchment area is 559 square kilometres (216 sq mi). The dam wall does not have a spillway.[3]

The dam draws its name from Mount Darwin, a peak located to the west of the dam wall. Both locations draw their names from the railway stopping place and the ghost town site of Darwin that was situated on the North Mount Lyell Railway between Gormanston and Kelly Basin.

In the 1910s the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company had investigated and surveyed a site very close to this dam for a proposed scheme.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Anthony and King Power Developments approved". Cross currents. Hydro-Electric Commission (70). 1969. ISSN 0811-4803.
  2. ↑ "King - Yolande". Energy: Our power stations. Hydro Tasmania. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2015.

Further reading


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