We had never been to Wivenhoe Dam, although my previous work took me to all the major dams in NSW. Wivenhoe is a big water supply dam with a massive lake, and the van park provided constant views over the water. We really enjoyed our time there – the sunsets were quite spectacular.
Getting There
We arrived at the Lumley Hill van park on 20 June 2023 and departed on 22 June to go home. It is only 88km away from where we were staying at Crows Nest so a very easy drive through some pretty country.
This was part of a 9 day escape – Murphys Creek for 3 nights (to read that post click here), Crows Nest for 3 nights ( to read that post click here), and then Wivenhoe Dam for 3 nights. We had great weather for the 9 days, except for when we were at Murphys Creek and Crows Nest where it was very cold overnight.
Kerry’s snippets in fuchsia
History
First Nations History
I could not find much significant information about the First Nations people of this area. The indigenous story of the area goes back thousands of years and any written history of these times is very sketchy or almost non-existent.
The Indigenous tribes of the Jagera, Giabal and Jarowair people inhabited the Darling Downs for at least 40,000 years before British settlement. Estimations place the Indigenous population pre-settlement from 1,500 to 2,500 people. The Jagera people were of the foothills and escarpment, Giabal were of the Toowoomba area and the Jarowair were of the northern areas towards and including the Bunya Mountains.
The Darling Downs was originally known as the ‘upland area’ and First Nations people of this area used a hunting technique whereby they would burn the grasslands so that the new, green sprouts would grow and attract animals. This earned them the name “Gooneburra”, or, “the ones who hunt with fire“, by the coastal tribes.
An assessment of the fortunes and lifestyles of the Aborigines in the Brisbane Valley can be read here.
Dam History
Wivenhoe Dam was designed as a response to the massive floods that damaged Brisbane in 1974. Wivenhoe was initially investigated as a dam site in the 1890s, again in 1933, and again in the mid 1960s. In November 1971, Government approval was given to proceed with construction.
Acquisition of lands of the submerged portion of the dam began in March 1973. In 1976, the Government gave approval to proceed with construction of the pumped storage hydro-electric scheme. In June 1983, the partially completed dam mitigated a potentially severe flood that may have caused damage equal to the 1893 Brisbane flood.
Built in the late 1970s – early 1980s the Dam provides a safe water supply to the people of Brisbane and adjacent regions. Additionally, it serves as the lower storage in a pumped-storage, hydro-electric generating facility, the Wivenhoe Power Station.
Day 1 – Monday 19 June – To Lumley Hill
It was a lovely drive to Esk – I had thought these lands would be generally flat, but I was very much mistaken. There were lovely rolling hills and forested areas.
We had gone away a bit early for checkin at Wivenhoe, so we decided to wait out an hour at Esk, a nice little town. We walked through the town and then sat it out in the park while Barry and Liz, who has had been there before, chased the essential coffee. We were taken with the quirky bike.
The nice drive continued and we began to see the lake through farmlands.
At the dam we went to the office which is on the spur for day use. We then drove around to Lumley Hill – we paid $40 a night. This was great as the van sites were parallel to the water guaranteeing great views. The lake looks fantastic. But the sites were a bit short for the larger vans and Barry had a bit of jiggling to do to fit in next to the concrete pad.
After setting up we relaxed for the afternoon, taking in the great views. We had a short walk around the Lumley Hill spur. Its a bit nippy, but slightly warmer than Crows Nest thankfully.
That night we had a fabulous sunset.
Day 2 – Tuesday 20 June – Lockyer Rail Bridge
My morning walk took me around the foreshore of the lake to see the many facilities for day trippers, campers and vanners – picnic areas, boat ramp, swimming enclosure, and of course many kangaroos. And always in the background is the massive lake.
There were a few long kayaks on the foreshore but we only saw only one out on the water.
Later we drove out to find the heritage Lockyer Rail Bridge. Barry and Liz led the way through Coominya – it contained a lovely old church now a home.
From there we went around a few circles before Barry and Liz spied a rough track between two paddocks. Down that bumpy track we at last came to the Bridge – at its back door as it were. The main access to the Bridge is across the other side of the bridge on an access road. Still we got there. The informational panel tells the history of the Bridge, and another its restoration.
It is a very unusual structure.
From there we went to Aitkinson Dam, where Liz and Barry had stayed before. This a long but not very high dam wall, and the lake is relatively shallow – a dam built in a relatively flat landscape. We had a picnic lunch – ruined by a cold strong wind from which we could not escape. Again there are many facilities that allow the public access to the lake.
That evening the sunset was just incredible. The colours of the clouds are just amazing. Certainly one of the best sunsets we have seen. This sunset even beat most of the Western Australian ones we had seen.
Day 3 – Wednesday 21 June – Not much happening
This was a take it easy day. We did a few repairs and adjustments to the car and van and prepared that for going into storage. Sometimes a nice relaxing day doing dribs and drabs is just the thing.
We were left with a 164km drive home.
To see the photos for this post click here