Maroondah Reservoir Park

The Maroondah Reservoir is a small reservoir used to supply water to Melbourne, Victoria.

Constructed in the 1920s by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, it is a concrete gravity dam. It is now operated by Melbourne Water.

Like most of Melbourne's water storages, the entire catchment is eucalypt forest completely closed to human activity, as is the reservoir itself. Immediately below the wall, the Maroondah Reservoir Park features a large garden landscaped in an "English style", featuring many exotic plants very different from the surrounding native vegetation.

A walking track leads across the dam wall, over the spillway, and up to a lookout from which much of the reservoir can be viewed.

History

The Maroondah scheme was the third water supply source for Melbourne, following the Yan Yean and Toorourrong schemes.

The Maroondah Aqueduct was built in 1886–1881 to supply water to the Preston Reservoir from a diversion weir on the Watts River. The level for the aqueduct was determined by the site of the proposed Maroondah Reservoir. Preparatory work for the dam was undertaken during the period 1915–1919. Construction commenced in October 1920 and was completed in 1927. During this period the capacity of the Maroondah Aqueduct was increased.

Gallery

<gallery> image:Maroondah Dam wall.JPG|The dam wall image:Maroondah Dam wall-Reservoir side.JPG|The dam wall from the reservoir side. image:Maroondah Dam wall plaque.jpg|Plaque on dam wall image:Maroondah reservoir spillway.jpg|The Spillway image:Maroondah dam wall spillway front.JPG|Looking at the spillway wall image:Maroondah reservoir outlet tower.jpg|The outlet tower image:Looking along the dam wall pathway.JPG|Looking along the dam wall pathway image:Maroondah Dam During Construction.JPG|The park side of Maroondah Dam during construction image:Maroondah Dam during constuction 2.JPG|The reservoir side of Maroondah Dam during construction image:The base of the outlet tower.jpg|The base of the outlet tower, during construction image:The opening of the dam.jpg|The opening of the dam in 1927 File:Maroondah Dam at capacity, October 2011.jpg|Maroondah Dam at capacity, October 2011 File:Maroondah Dam spillway, October 2011.jpg|Maroondah Dam spillway operating, October 2011. File:Maroondah Reservoir From Melba Highway.JPG|Maroondah Reservoir viewed from the Melba Highway, 2009 </gallery>