Burrinjuck Dam & No. 1 Power Station, Murrumbidgee River

Burrinjuck Dam and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area formed the headwaters of the first large scale irrigation scheme in New South Wales. Designed by L.A.B. Wade, construction began in 1907. Irrigation waters were first released in 1913 and construction to full height was completed by 1928, making Burrinjuck the largest Dam in Australia. The No 1 hydro-electric power station was completed in 1927 with a capacity of 10,000 kilowatts. Low-cost electricity from Burrinjuck supplied the south west of NSW through a 66,000 volt transmission network, the most extensive in the state and the first to use this voltage in NSW. Work subsequent to the Nomination: To meet modern dam safety standards and increase dam safety in the event of extreme flooding, between 1986 and 1994 the wall was strengthened by post-tensioned anchors, the dam’s spillways were upgraded and the wall was raised by 13.4 metres to its current height of 92.4 metres.

https://www.waternsw.com.au/nsw-dams/regional-nsw-dams/burrinjuck-dam

Burrinjuck Dam on the morning of 28 May 1925. The wall had been overtopped , unphotographed, through the previous night, as the tree trunks on the crest indicate.

Burrinjuck Power Station.

Inspection by Commissioners and Engineers.

Inspection by Commissioners and Engineers.

Inspection by Commissioners and Engineers.

The text of the Engineers Australia plaque.

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Burrinjuck Dam location map.

Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	National Engineering Landmark (NEL)
Award Date	8 November 1999
Heritage Significance	Burrinjuck Dam and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area formed the first large scale irrigation scheme in New South Wales.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet	Available here.
Plaque/Interpretation Panel	None Installed.