Three Dams 5 Aug 2012

CORDEAUX DAM

We wanted to go for a drive but not to far, so remembering taking children when they were very young we decided to visit the dams south of Sydney, the Cordeaux, Nepean and Avon and free of charge, all within 1hour to 1 1/2 hours from Sydney,


Packing up a picnic lunch we headed off to our first dam, the Cordeaux, as the memory had lapsed over time we did not know what to expect.  The dam is very clealy sign posted off the Picton Road with a short drive into the entrance of the dam area, we were very pleasantly surprised to see well kept picnic grounds and a  shelter sheds, tables, barbeques, toilets, playgrounds for children and more, what a great place to bring a family or just come an veg out.


We drove down to the dam and this was even more of a surprise, with overhead battlements and beautiful columns reminding us of ancient Greece at the entry.  Made from sandstone and completed in 1926 you wonder how such a feat could be done at that time without the machinery we have today.

The walk across the dam was truly magical taking in every view and the vast mass of water.


 The water is 156 feet deepand is 1931 acres in size and the catchment area is 35 miles square.

This water is some of Sydneys water supply water is diverted to the Nepean Tunnel (7.5kms long) to the Cataract River there it flows through Catarct Tunnel, to upper Canal where it flows 57kms to the Prospect Water Filtration Plant near Prospect Reservoir.

                                                                                                                                                                   

NEPEAN DAM

After leaving the Cordeaux we headed back to the Hume Highway and turned south taking the turn off to the Avon Dam Road (approx 30kms) turning left the road takes you directly to the dams. 

 The Nepean Dam is first turn right and drive to the entrance, although smaller in size the picnic area is great, when we visited there was a birthday party happening, playground area for children and picnic tables, shelter sheds, toilets and barbeques throughout the grounds.

This dam was started in 1925 but not completed until 1935 due to the depression of the thirties but again a beautiful dam it has been upgraded since and restrengthened.

                                                                                                                                                                 

AVON DAM

Retracing our steps back onto Avon Dam Road turned right towards the Avon Dam this was completed in 1928 and has very similar structure as the Cordeaux beautiful battlements with columns onto the walkway of the dam.

 This area also has a beautiful picnic ground with play area, toilets, barbeques etc.

A tunnel links the Nepean and Avon dams so water can be transferred between these dams in time of drought.

These dams are also constructed of the beautiful sandstone.