Hope Valley Dam
| Hope Valley Dam | |
|---|---|
A shelter on the dam wall, 2025 | |
Hope Valley Dam Location of Hope Valley Dam in Greater Adelaide | |
Interactive map of Hope Valley Dam | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Coordinates | 34°51′14″S 138°40′53″E / 34.85389°S 138.681407°E |
| Purpose | Water supply |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1873 |
| Built by | G & RE Fry |
| Owner | Government of South Australia |
| Operator | SA Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Earth fill dam |
| Impounds | Off-stream |
| Height (foundation) | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Length | 765 m (2,510 ft) |
| Dam volume | 236×103 m3 (8.3×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway capacity | 5 m3/s (180 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Hope Valley Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 3.63 GL (2,940 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 2.84 GL (2,300 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 60.3 ha (149 acres) |
| Normal elevation | 102 m (335 ft) AHD |
The Hope Valley Dam is an off-stream earth-filled embankment dam, located in Hope Valley, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. Completed in 1873, the resultant reservoir, the Hope Valley Reservoir, was established to supply potable water for the city of Adelaide.[1]
Overview
When completed in 1873, it became the second reservoir constructed in Adelaide and remains the oldest still in use in South Australia.[2]
The earth-filled dam wall is 22 metres (72 ft) high and 765 metres (2,510 ft) long. When full, the reservoir has capacity of 3,630 megalitres (2,940 acre⋅ft) and covers 60.3 hectares (149 acres), drawn from a relatively-small catchment area of 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi). The uncontrolled spillway has a flow capacity of 5 cubic metres per second (180 cu ft/s).[3]
The reservoir is fed by water transferred from the River Torrens via a tunnel and aqueduct. The river is also used to transfer water from the Kangaroo Creek and Millbrook reservoirs.[1]
In December 2020, the reservoir was opened to the public for the first time for activities including walking, running, cycling and picnicking.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Water Storage (Reservoirs)". SA Water. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ Public Works Committee (August 2000). "Hope Valley Reservoir rehabilitation project (final report)" (PDF). Parliament of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 236). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "South Australia's Hope Valley Reservoir now open to the public - Australasian Leisure Management". www.ausleisure.com.au. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.