Lake Manchester Dam
Encyclopedia
Lake Manchester is built on Cabbage Tree Creek in the suburb
of the same name, not far above its confluence with the Brisbane River
in South East Queensland
, Australia
. The dam wall is a concrete gravity-section type. Its original purpose was to supplement supplies when the flow of the Brisbane River was low. Today it is one of a number of dams connected to the South East Queensland Water Grid
.
The dam is owned by Seqwater. Recreational activities which are permitted around the dam include barbecuing, camping, horse riding, mountain biking, picnicking and bushwalking.
, Gold Creek Dam
and the Mount Crosby Weir
were built to supply water to Brisbane but could not meet growing demand. A site 2.8 km upstream from the creek's confluence with the Brisbane River was selected as this was the next catchment to the west in the D'Aguilar Range
. The designer was Allan Hagan, an American engineer.
Construction of the Lake Manchester Dam commenced in 1912 and was competed in 1916. It was originally called Cabbage Tree Creek Dam. It was renamed in December 1916 when the new dam was names after Mr E.J. Manchester, president of the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. In 1924 the elevation of the bywash was raised which added to the dams capacity.
In October 2005 the dam was reactivated as drought
reduced the region's water supply to a critical point. The same year a report claimed that due to leaks and cracks the structure could break in a severe rain storm event.
Lake Manchester, Queensland
Lake Manchester is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is west of the CBD next to Brisbane Forest. The suburb Lake Manchester is named after the Lake Manchester Dam constructed between 1912–1916.-External links:* *...
of the same name, not far above its confluence with 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...
in 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...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The dam wall is a concrete gravity-section type. Its original purpose was to supplement supplies when the flow of the Brisbane River was low. Today it is one of a number of dams connected to the South East Queensland Water Grid
South East Queensland Water Grid
The SEQ Water Grid is a region-wide, long term, water supply scheme that provides a sustainable water infrastructure network for the South East Queensland region of Australia. The project was the largest urban response to the Drought in Australia, which was severely affecting water supplies in...
.
The dam is owned by Seqwater. Recreational activities which are permitted around the dam include barbecuing, camping, horse riding, mountain biking, picnicking and bushwalking.
History
Enoggera DamEnoggera Dam
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...
, 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...
and 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...
were built to supply water to Brisbane but could not meet growing demand. A site 2.8 km upstream from the creek's confluence with the Brisbane River was selected as this was the next catchment to the west in the D'Aguilar Range
D'Aguilar Range
The D'Aguilar Range is a mountain range near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The town of Dayboro is situated on the lower foothills midway along the range and Woodford lies at the northern most point of the range. Many residential areas line its eastern slopes including the town of Samford and the...
. The designer was Allan Hagan, an American engineer.
Construction of the Lake Manchester Dam commenced in 1912 and was competed in 1916. It was originally called Cabbage Tree Creek Dam. It was renamed in December 1916 when the new dam was names after Mr E.J. Manchester, president of the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. In 1924 the elevation of the bywash was raised which added to the dams capacity.
In October 2005 the dam was reactivated as 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...
reduced the region's water supply to a critical point. The same year a report claimed that due to leaks and cracks the structure could break in a severe rain storm event.