Chifley Dam

Chifley Dam, named after Ben Chifley, is an impressive rock and earth-fill embankment dam located in Bathurst, New South Wales.

It serves as a crucial water source for the residents of Bathurst, being constructed across the Campbells River.

Situated 17 kilometers upstream from Bathurst, the dam covers a catchment area of 960 square kilometers. Its massive wall stands at a height of 34.4 meters and stretches 455 meters in length. When at full capacity, the dam can hold an impressive 30,800 megalitres of water.

The dam's reservoir spans 2.2 hectares, and its water eventually flows into the Campbells River, which joins the Macquarie River. Before reaching the residents of Bathurst, the water from the river is treated at the Gorman's Hill water treatment facility.

The Chifley Dam spillway is equally remarkable, measuring 455 meters in length. It consists of a concrete spillway with an uncontrolled side-channel and six plug auxiliary fuse plug spillways. The spillway has an estimated discharge capacity of 9,800 cubic meters per second.

Currently, the dam receives an average daily inflow of 35 megaliters, while the filtered water consumption averages 18.9 megalitres per day. Additionally, 8.4 megalitres of treated water are released back into the Macquarie River.

Chifley Dam is an engineering marvel that plays a vital role in supplying potable water to the Bathurst region. It is a must-visit destination for those interested in learning about Australia's water management and engineering history.