Ord River Dam
The dam is located on the Ord River approximately forty kilometres south of the town of Kununurra.
The dam is a rockfill dam of hard durable quartzite rock compacted in layers with a heavy vibrating roller. The dam has a narrow impervious core of clay with zones of filter material on either side of it. Construction of the dam took place over three dry seasons, commencing in 1969, and was substantially complete by December 1971. The 1970-71 wet season river flows were allowed to pass over the partially completed dam which, because of the protective measures provided, was undamaged by these substantial flows. The height of the dam was extended to above the maximum design flood level and after completion wet season floods were designed to pass through a comparatively low-capacity spillway channel at full supply level which was sited at a saddle eight kilometres north west of the dam.
Two tunnels through the northern abutment from a free-standing intake structure provide discharges for irrigation and for the hydroelectric station. One of the tunnels also served to divert the small dry season flows during construction. Further detail is available in the paper by Ken Webster and Bill Wilkin titled The Investigation and Design of the Ord River Dam, and published in the Civil Engineering Transactions, Institution of Engineers Australia, Vol. CE 15, No. 1 & 2, 1973, pp. 14-20.
The privately owned 30 megawatt hydroelectric power station located downstream of the north abutment was opened in 1996. Additional storage to guarantee supply for the hydro power generation was provided by building a mass concrete 'plug' in the main spillway, raising the full supply level of the reservoir by six metres and increasing storage capacity to 10,760 million cubic metres.
Potential of the East Kimberley Ord River basin was first noted by explorer Alexander Forrest during his exploratory journey through the Kimberley in 1879, during which he named the Ord River after the Governor of Western Australia, Sir Harry Ord.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Historic Engineering Marker (HEM) |
| Award Date | 28 August 2004 |
| Heritage Significance | The Ord River Dam and its associated irrigation scheme changed the economic and social structure of the region by establishing a new agricultural industry and a new town in the midst of sparsely populated cattle stations and a small port town. The dam is a fine example of rock-fill dam technology and its design incorporated several innovative features, including staging to permit one wet season's river flows to pass over the partially completed works; and accommodation of the very large estimated peak flood flow by extending the height of the dam to above maximum flood level and providing a small capacity spillway to gradually floodwaters. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. (8.6 MB) |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Available here. . |
| EHRP Plaque; Commencement of Construction Plaque; Official Opening Plaque |
