Telephone: 08 9734 7572
| Telephone: 08 9734 7572 |
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Wellington Dam History In the 1930’s, during the great depression, there was a drive to fund public works to provide jobs for thousands of people desperate for work. A dam on the Collie River was proposed as a way to extend the south west irrigation network and to encourage further expansion in agriculture. Construction of the Wellington Dam started in 1931. More than 100 workers, their wives and families, made their way to live in the tiny settlement of tents pitched in the forest. The project was a major success, work being completed in 1933, the demand for water was more than could be supplied. In 1944 the dam was increased by one metre. Storage was trebled in 1960 when the height of the wall was raised again by 15 metres. The completed Dam is now 34 metres high and 366 metres long. · Wellington Dam has been a source for drinking water. · A pipeline was built to Narrogin in 1956, later extending it to other towns. · A Hydro Power Station was also built on the river below dam. · Irrigation from the Wellington Dam provides water for farms on the coastal plains. · The Dam overflows when rainfall is sufficient. · Holding capacity for the Wellington Dam is 186 Gigalitres (billion litres). · The dam is located 25 kilometres west of Collie. · Information Panels are situated near the lookout and above the Quarry. · The Dam was named after the Duke of Wellington. · Relax at the Café, take in the views, great coffee Recent years- with the decline in rainfall and rapid drawing of water from Dam, it now rarely overflows, although when it does it is rather majestic. Thousands of visitors from around the state descend on the popular site to witness the spectacular lacey effect of water cascading over the 367-metre-long crest of the concrete weir wall. |
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