Churchman Brook Dam

Churchman Brook Dam
The dam and the spillway
Churchman Brook Dam
Location of the dam in Western Australia
Interactive map of Churchman Brook Dam
CountryAustralia
LocationBedfordale, City of Armadale, Darling Range, Western Australia
Coordinates32°9′0.4″S 116°4′40.5″E / 32.150111°S 116.077917°E / -32.150111; 116.077917
PurposePotable water supply
StatusOperational
Construction began1923
Opening date1929
Designed bySir Russell John Dumas
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment dam
ImpoundsChurchman Brook
Height (foundation)26 m (85 ft)
Length231 m (758 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity2.24 GL (79,000,000 cu ft)
Maximum length1.4 km (0.87 mi)
Official nameChurchman Brook Dam
TypeCity of Armadale Municipal Inventory
Designated1 December 2008
Reference no.18961

The Churchman Brook Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam approximately 30 kilometres (20 mi) southeast of Perth, Western Australia in the City of Armadale. The reservoir serves as a source of potable water for Perth. The reservoir has a capacity of 2.24 gigalitres (79 million cubic feet) for a catchment area of 16 square kilometres (6.2 sq mi).[1][2]

Overview

The creation of the dam was announced in March 1923 by Premier James Mitchell. Along with Canning Dam and Wungong Dam, it formed part of the Hills Water Supply Scheme which was intended to rectify severe water shortages in metropolitan Perth. Its capacity was initially estimated at 2,700 gigalitres (595×10^9 imp gal).[3]

Construction of the dam commenced in 1923 and was completed in 1929; the resident engineer was Sir Russell John Dumas.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

The dam was added to the City of Armadale's heritage list on 1 December 2008.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Churchman Brook Dam" (PDF). WaterCorporation.com.au. Archived from the original (facilities brochure) on 25 July 2008.
  2. ^ "Archived" (PDF). WaterCorporation.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2006.
  3. ^ Gregory, Jenny. "'A Spirit of Bolshevism?': Perth's Water Crisis of the 1920s". Journal of Urban History. 46 (1): 89–90. doi:10.1177/0096144217692989.
  4. ^ Layman, Lenore (1966). "Sir Russell John Dumas (1887–1975)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 14. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  5. ^ "METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY". The West Australian. Vol. XXXIX, no. 6, 694. Western Australia. 7 November 1923. p. 8. Retrieved 10 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia., ...The first section — the construction of a dam at Churchman's Brook — has been approved; operations, on the site will commence next week...
  6. ^ "WATER SUPPLY.:A New Reservoir.:Work at Churchman's Brook". The West Australian. Vol. XL, no. 6, 842. Western Australia. 30 April 1924. p. 7. Retrieved 10 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "CHURCHMAN'S BROOK DAM: AUGMENTING THE SUMMER SUPPLY: Work being pushed aheadS". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 1376. Western Australia. 25 May 1924. p. 11. Retrieved 10 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "An Interesting Series of Pictures of Churchman's Brook Reservoir". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 1376. Western Australia. 25 May 1924. p. 11. Retrieved 10 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "CHURCHMAN'S BROOK DAM.:Heavy Cost". The West Australian. Vol. XLIV, no. 7, 985. Western Australia. 18 January 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 10 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Churchman Brook Dam". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 November 2024.