Eildon Dam

Eildon Dam
A view of the impounded Lake Eildon, in 2011
Location of the Eildon Dam inVictoria
Country	Australia
Location	Victorian Alps,Victoria
Coordinates	37°11′34″S145°53′49″E
Purpose	Water supply Irrigation Hydroelectricity
Status	Operational
Construction began	1915(1915)
Opening date	1929(1929) 1935(1935)(modifications) 1955(1955)(enlarged)
Operator(s)	Goulburn–Murray Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Goulburn River
Height	84.5 m (277 ft)
Length	1,085 m (3,560 ft)
Dam volume	10,200×10^3m3(360×10^6cu ft)
Spillway type	Controlled
Spillway capacity	3,356 m3/s (118,500 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Eildon
Total capacity	3,390,000 ML (750,000×10^6imp gal; 900,000×10^6US gal)
Catchment area	3,885 km2(1,500 sq mi)
Surface area	13,832 ha (34,180 acres)
Maximum water depth	79 m (259 ft)
Normal elevation	288.9 m (948 ft)AHD
Eildon Hydroelectric Power Station
Coordinates	37°13′19″S145°55′17″E
Operator(s)	AGL Energy
Commission date	1955(1955) 2001(2001)(upgrade)
Turbines	Four
Installed capacity	135 MW (181,000 hp)
Annual generation	226 GWh (810 TJ)
Website Lake EildonatGoulburn–Murray Water

TheEildon Damis arockandearth-fillembankment damwith acontrolled spillway,located on theGoulburn Riverbetween the regional towns ofMansfieldandEildonwithinLake Eildon National Park,in theAlpineregion ofVictoria,Australia.The dam's purpose is for thesupplyofpotable water,irrigation,and the generation ofhydroelectricity.The impoundedreservoiris calledLake Eildon.The first cut of ground was done by Mr Bain and Mr MacLean from Scotland.

Location and features

Lake Eildon National Park from above. March 2021.

Designed by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria, construction of the original water storage, which was known as Sugarloaf Reservoir, took place between 1915 and 1929 to provide irrigation water for what was a vast uncultivated area on Victoria's northern plains. The original weir was modified in 1929, and again in 1935, to increase the storage capacity to 377,000 megalitres (83×10^⁹imp gal; 100×10^⁹US gal). However, this reservoir was still limited in its capacity to meet the growing demand for water in theGoulburn Valleyand to protect farmers during drought years. Following a detailed feasibility study of all possible storage sites on the Goulburn River, it was decided that the existing dam site was the most suitable for construction of a larger dam. In 1951, work began to enlarge the storage to its present capacity. The enlargement was completed in 1955 and the storage was renamed Lake Eildon.

The embankment dam wall is constructed with an earth core and rock fill, rising to a height of 83 metres (272 ft).The core component materials of the wall include 10,200 thousand cubic metres (360×10^⁶cu ft) of rock and earth. With a catchment area of 3,885 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi) that includes the Goulburn,Delatite,Howqua,Big,andJamiesonrivers and several minor tributaries,the reservoir covers an area of 13,832 hectares (34,180 acres). The reservoir has a capacity of 3,390,000 megalitres (746×10^⁹imp gal; 896×10^⁹US gal) with an average depth of 24 metres (79 ft), and can release a maximum outflow of approximately 3,356 cubic metres per second (118,500 cu ft/s) via its controlled spillway. The crest of the uncontrolled spillway is 288.9 metres (948 ft)AHDand is approximately 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) long.

Lake Eildon is connected to the metropolitan water supply ofMelbourne,thestate capital,via apipelinefrom the Goulburn River. On average, 91% of the water from Lake Eildon goes to theGoulburn Weirand theWaranga Basinbefore it flows to irrigators in the Goulburn Valley system.

Power generation

Operated byAGL Energy,Eildon Hydroelectric Power Stationis ahydro–electricpower stationthat operates during the irrigation season from August to May. Its operation is mainly governed by release of water to meet irrigation demands, but it may also be operated during winter and spring when flood releases can be used to generate electricity. The power station can also be used to meet short-term emergency power needs resulting from industrial disputes or plant breakdown elsewhere in the State's power grid. Initially completed as part of the Sugarloaf Reservoir with just 15 megawatts (20,000 hp) of hydro–electric generating power, capacity was increased by 1957 to 120 megawatts (160,000 hp) through the installation of two 60 megawatts (80,000 hp) turbines. The first 67-megawatt (90,000 hp)turbinewas commissioned in 1956, and a second in 1957.In addition, there are two 7.5 megawatts (10,100 hp) turbines; these were decommissioned in 1971, but recommissioned in 2001.These smaller turbines were relocated from the formerSugarloaf Power Stationon the Eildon Weir,completed in 1929 and in use until work on the larger dam started in 1951.This renovation of the oldest turbines in 2001 led to a generation capacity of 135 megawatts (181,000 hp). A 5,200 megalitres (1.1×10⁹imp gal; 1.4×10⁹US gal) pondage below the dam temporarily detains water discharged from the power station and regulates releases downstream to minimise variations in flow due to intermittent power generation. In 1995 theEildon Pondage Power Station,a small hydro-electric station with 4.5 megawatts (6,000 hp) output was installed on the pondage.In 2024, AGL studied the options of expanding the scheme withpumped-storage hydroelectricity.

Eildon Power Station has four turbogenerators,with a total generating capacity of 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) ofelectricity.It produces an average of around 225 gigawatt-hours (810 TJ) of electricity per annum.

Houseboats

As the only inland waterway where houseboats are permitted, Lake Eildon has a thriving houseboat culture with over 700 on the lake.There is a Private Harbour and a Public Harbour. Rental of houseboats is possible in the latter. Some boats are restricted to daytime operation due to lack of lighting. The Private Harbour manages the owners' houseboats with staff and facilities that cater to over 18 marinas. Both harbours provide fueling facilities.

Drought and recovery

During thedrought yearsin Victoria in the 2000s, Lake Eildon rarely filled and the once-thriving holiday destinations around the lake were unable to attract visitors, leading to considerable economic hardship. Although water is in great demand foragriculture,careful regulation has kept outflows fairly static. During November 2006 the lake dropped to a low of only 15% from the previous year level of 48.3%.The lake reached as low as 5.3% in 2007.

After many years with below average rainfall, 2010 saw Lake Eildon receive above average rainfall and rose from 23% of capacity in May 2010 to be 82.5% as of March 2011.On the night of the 13th October 2022, Lake Eildon inflows peaked at 145,000 megalitres per day, decreasing overnight to 100,000, far above the dam's maximum outflow of 38,000 megalitres per day with the spill gates open. On the 15th October 2022, due to an abnormal amount of rain in the region, the lake filled up to 100.3% of its capacity for the first time since 1994. Because the spillway gates were raised, this raised the height of the dam allowing more water into the reservoir than is normally able.

In film

The nearby town ofBonnie Doonwas the location for the holiday scenes in the movie,The Castle.Lake Eildon was also the main location used for the 1975 feature film version ofThe Box,as well as the 1989direct-to-videoAustralian horror filmHouseboat Horror.

Gallery

• 
  During construction of a new embankment,1954
• 
  Lake Eildon in circa 2006.
• 
  Lake Eildon from Merlo's Lookout in early 2007, showing one of the boat ramps now clear of the water.
• 
  Peppin Point, Nov.2010

See also

• List of dams in Victoria
• North-South Pipeline
• Goulburn River
• List of power stations in Victoria (Australia)
• Eildon Pondage Power Station
• Rubicon Hydroelectric Scheme
• The Family (Australian New Age group)

External links

• Lake Eildon Tourism Website
• Goulburn-Murray Water - Lake Eildon
• Lake Eildon Challenge multi sports event