Hume Dam - National Engineering Landmark #32 Bellbridge, New South Wales, Australia
By MavEtJu on 10-Oct-15. Waypoint GA7546

Hume Dam - National Engineering Landmark #32

The origins of Hume Dam go back to the late nineteenth century as interest in irrigated agriculture developed and the need for a reliable water supply along the Murray River was recognised.

At the Corowa Water Conference in 1902 shortly after federation, the need for a major storage on the upper Murray was agreed, but it was not until 1919 that construction of Hume Dam commenced. However its capacity was not decided on until 1926.

The work began with the concrete gravity section, designed and constructed by New South Wales and the main earthen embankment designed and constructed by Victoria. The two states set up separate organisations, each with quite different terms and conditions of employment, and established individual construction camps on their side of the river. .

Financial problems in the Great Depression of the 1930s caused governments to limit construction without restricting the ultimate design capacity. Construction was substantially completed in 1936.

Contents of the plaque:

HUME DAM

The design of Hume Dam, which was the major work authorised by the River Murray Waters Act (1915), was directed by engineers E.M. de Burgh (NSW) and J.S. Dethridge (Vic). The dam supplies irrigation, town and stock water to the Murray Valley, mitigates floods, generates power and enabled vastly expanded agricultural and food production.  When commissioned in 1938, it was one of the largest dams in the world. Its storage capacity was doubled to 3000 million cubic metres in 1961. In its basic design and subsequent upgrading, Hume provides evidence of the development of dam technology in Australia. Work in the 1950s-60s involved a large number of post-war migrants, the relocation of Tallangatta township and the raising of Bethanga Bridge.

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, AUSTRALIA, MURRAY-DARLING BASIN COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION NSW. 2002

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For more information, please see the nomination PDF at the Heritage Register at the Engineers Australia website: Nomination