Burrendong Dam
title: "Burrendong Dam" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["dams-completed-in-1967", "central-west-(new-south-wales)", "hydroelectric-power-stations-in-new-south-wales", "dams-in-the-murray-river-basin", "dams-in-new-south-wales"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrendong_Dam" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox dam"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Burrendong Dam |
| image | Lake Burrendong.jpg |
| image_caption | Lake Burrendong, New South Wales, Australia |
| location_map | New South Wales |
| location_map_caption | Location of the Burrendong Dam |
| in New South Wales | |
| coordinates | |
| country | Australia |
| location | Wellington, New South Wales |
| purpose | Flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply |
| status | O |
| construction_began | 1958 |
| opening | 1967 |
| owner | State Water Corporation |
| dam_type | E |
| dam_height | 76 m |
| dam_length | 1116 m |
| dam_volume | 1188000 ML |
| dam_crosses | Macquarie River |
| spillway_count | One |
| spillway_type | Gated concrete chute |
| spillway_capacity | 13720 m3/s |
| res_name | Lake Burrendong |
| res_capacity_total | 1188 GL |
| res_catchment | 13886 km2 |
| res_surface | 8900 ha |
| res_elevation | 344 m AMSL |
| plant_operator | AGL Energy |
| plant_commission | 1996 |
| plant_type | C |
| plant_capacity | 19 MW |
| plant_annual_gen | 50.9 GWh |
| website | Burrendong Dam |
| :: |
| name = Burrendong Dam | name_official = | image = Lake Burrendong.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Lake Burrendong, New South Wales, Australia | image_alt = | location_map = New South Wales | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = Location of the Burrendong Dam in New South Wales | coordinates = | country = Australia | location = Wellington, New South Wales | purpose = Flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply | status = O | construction_began = 1958 | opening = 1967 | demolished = | cost = | owner = State Water Corporation | dam_type = E | dam_height = 76 m | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_height_foundation= | dam_length = 1116 m | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = 1188000 ML | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_crosses = Macquarie River | spillway_count = One | spillway_type = Gated concrete chute | spillway_capacity = 13720 m3/s | res_name = Lake Burrendong | res_capacity_total = 1188 GL | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = 13886 km2 | res_surface = 8900 ha | res_elevation = 344 m AMSL | res_max_depth = | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_tidal_range = | plant_operator = AGL Energy | plant_commission = 1996 | plant_decommission = | plant_type = C | plant_turbines = | plant_capacity = 19 MW | plant_annual_gen = 50.9 GWh | website = Burrendong Dam | extra =
Burrendong Dam is a rock-fill embankment major gated dam with a clay core across the Macquarie River upstream of Wellington in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply and hydro-electric power generation. The dam impounds Lake Burrendong and is filled by the waters from the Macquarie, and Cudgegong rivers as well as Meroo Creek.
History
The idea of building the dam arose in 1909. However, it was not until 1946 until legislation was passed to construct the dam. Construction commenced in 1950. The town of Mumbil expanded to accommodate the workers building the dam. The dam was completed in April 1965 and water began to flow into it for the first time. It was officially opened on 18 August 1967 by Robert Askin, the Premier of New South Wales. The date was chosen because it was the sesquicentenary of the town of Wellington. In September 1969 the dam was nearly full for the first time.
The village of Burrendong, once a gold-mining area, was flooded by the construction of the dam.
Location and features
The Burrendong Dam is a major dam on the Macquarie River within the Macquarie Valley, approximately 30 km southeast of Wellington. The dam was built by the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission for the purposes of providing flood mitigation, irrigation, and water supply.
The dam wall height is 76 m and is 1116 m long. The water depth is 57 m and at 100% capacity the water level is 344 m AHD. The surface area of the dam is 7200 ha and the catchment area of the dam is 13900 km2. At 100%, Burrendong Dam has a capacity of 1188000 ML. Additionally, the dam has a further flood mitigation capacity of 480000 ML.
Burrendong Dam has three times been recorded at a critically low level of 1.5% in drought. Contrastingly, however, Burrendong has mitigated potentially devastating floods downstream by using its flood capacity and releasing water in accordance with downstream tributary flows, safely reaching 160% of capacity in 1990 and 152.8% in 2010. In January 2020, the lake was again reported to be at 1.6% level.
The A$32 million first phase of a major upgrade began in 2010 and is expected to be completed during 2015. This project will bring the dam up to modern safety standards including the raising of the main dam wall and saddle dam by 1.8 m as well as modifications to the existing spillway, complemented by construction of an auxiliary spillway and fuse plug.
Power generation
A hydro-electric power station generates up to 19 MW of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Burrendong Dam. The average output is 50.9 GWh per annum.
An 800 megawatt, 15 hour (11,900 MWh) pumped-storage hydroelectricity project east of the lake (but not using the lake) won a state tender in early 2025. Two new reservoirs are to be built, with a height difference of 350 meters. Cost may be AUD1.8 billion.
References
References
- (9 October 1909). "The Burrendong Dam.". [[The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate]].
- (8 February 1950). "BURRENDONG DAM". [[Construction and Local Government Journal.
- (21 October 1950). "MUMBIL IS NOW ON THE MAP". [[The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate]].
- (23 April 1965). "THE BIG FILL". [[Western Herald (Bourke).
- (12 May 1967). "Mr. Askin To Open Dam". [[Western Herald (Bourke).
- (19 September 1969). "Burrendong Dam is Nearly Full". [[Western Herald (Bourke).
- Dolan, Carly. (2010-03-23). "Underwater township mapped by former resident".
- "Burrendong Dam". [[Government of New South Wales]].
- (2010). "Register of Large Dams in Australia". The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated.
- Drevikovsky, Janek. (2020-01-15). "NSW drought: Burrendong Dam that supplies Dubbo close to empty".
- "Burrendong Power Station, New South Wales". [[AGL Energy.
- (26 February 2025). "Prices fall as first pumped hydro and two eight hour battery projects win landmark storage tender".
- (11 September 2025). "Acen seeks green light for 12-hour pumped hydro storage project in Australia".
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