A white elephant in the Goldfields! That's exactly what the tax payers of Western Australia got after the construction of Niagara Dam for a mere 62,000 pounds in the late 1890's. Originally built to service the new trains that would travel between Kalgoorlie and Malcolm and provide Kookynie with water. Unfortunately, by the time it was finished it held very little water. In the meantime a good supply of water had been found underground near Kookynie, approx 20kms from Niagara Dam.
Niagara Dam was never used for its original purpose however over the last 130 odd years it's collected plenty of water and became known as an oasis in the goldfields. People from all around or passing through stopped at Niagara Dam for picnics, to swim and camp. Today travellers stop in at Niagara Dam, a picturesque spot, for a BBQ and / or camp overnight in one of the three camping areas. On warm days some even have a dip in the dam.
On this trip, the road in to Kookynie was closed due to the recent rain that had fallen a few weeks earlier, Niagara Dam was as far as we could go. As soon as we pulled in we were surprised by how full Niagara Dam was, the fullest we've ever seen it. In fact, the bbq and picnic table we had lunch at in 2017 was now about a metre away from the water's edge.
Fun Facts:
Although contracted to cost only 42000.00 pounds construction finally cost 62000.00 pounds
After it was completed it was deemed obsolete however despite this it was registered in 2003 on the state heritage site.
Cement for dam was transported by camel train
Dam wall is 23 feet thick or approx. 7 mts and 61 feet or approx. 18 mts high and 570 feet or 173 mts long
The capacity of the dam is 38,750,000 imperial gallons or 176,160,987 litres
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Chapters
0:19 - Niagara Dam is full
0:50 - Trees in front of the Dam Wall
1:04 - Lookin Down
1:39 - The Dam Wall
2:17 - Threading through the bushes
5 июн 2024
