Cataract Dam The
Cataract Dam is a
heritage-listed gravity dam with an unlined side spillway extending from the left abutment. It is tall, long and holds of water. The core of the dam consists of large sandstone blocks, quarried onsite and
cemented together. The downstream face is of mass poured
basalt concrete, with a
basalt facing. A readily accessible source of suitable rock was located some distance away at Sherbrooke, also known as Ferndale, situated near the top of
Bulli Pass. To transport the basalt from the quarry to the dam construction site, a gauge steam tramway, long, was constructed. Dam construction began in 1902 and was completed in 1907, and the spillway was widened in 1915. Poet
Banjo Paterson wrote a satirical ballad "The Dam that Keele Built" about the politics behind the construction of Cataract Dam.
Cordeaux Dam The
Cordeaux Dam is a heritage-listed
arch dam across the
Cordeaux River with an unlined side spillway on the left abutment. It is high, long and creates a reservoir which holds . Construction began in 1918 and was completed in 1926 at a cost of
A£945,000. The blue metal used in the construction of the dam was supplied from the Government Quarries at
Kiama and brought by rail to
Douglas Park. From here it was conveyed by aerial ropeway across the
Nepean Gorge to an interchange on the eastern side where the material was transferred to a gauge steam tramway to a point adjacent to the dam site.
Avon Dam The
Avon Dam is a heritage-listed arch dam across the
Avon River; it is tall, long and its reservoir holds . It has the largest capacity of all the dams in the Scheme. Construction of the
heritage-listed dam wall began in 1921 and was completed in 1927 at a cost of
A£1,047,000. The dam construction and materials are the same as Cordeaux.
Nepean Dam The
Nepean Dam is a heritage-listed arch dam across the
Nepean River; it is tall and long. Construction on the Dam began in 1926, construction was delayed for two years during the Depression, it was finally completed in 1935. The capacity is listed variously as . Railway sidings were established on the
Main Southern railway line at a point between Bargo and
Yerrinbool. Transport to the dam site was again by light railway, on this occasion of standard gauge. This avoided transhipment from the Government vehicles bringing materials from large commercial quarries, effectively making the line an extended privately owned siding. The line was long through gentle countryside. Trains were worked by a variety of locomotives, including a former
Sydney Steam Tram Motor. Additionally, there was a system of narrow () gauge lines in use at the dam construction site. Additional work was carried out on the spillway between 1943 and 1947 to prevent scouring of the dam foundations. == Gallery ==