Victoria Dam
Built in 1891, Victoria Dam was the first dam to be constructed in Western Australia, to serve the adjacent hills suburbs of Lesmurdie and Kalamunda, as well as Perth metropolitan area in times of peak demand.
Dam information
- Capacity – 9.5 billion litres
- Catchment area – 37km2
- Wall length – 285m
- Wall height (above foundations) – 52m
Victoria Dam became the main supply of drinking water for Perth and Fremantle, replacing wells and other natural sources to accommodate for the growing population.
In 1991 a new dam was constructed a little further upstream from the original dam. It was the first Roller Compacted Concrete (RRC) dam in WA, and the fifth to be built in Australia. RRC combines the advantages of a concrete dam with the efficient plant-intensive methods used to construct earthfill and rockfill dams.
A section on the walk trail will take you past a preserved section of the old dam wall and kaolin pits which was extracted for use at the brickworks in the 1960's.
Visitor information
Only pedestrian access to the Reservoir is permitted. There is limited access to the upper carpark which requires visitors to walk to the dam wall and lower public access area. The 7km loop to the catchment area is grade 3 and may contain steep sections and rough terrain, allow 2-3 hours to complete it, wear sun protection and take adequate water.
As the dam is part of Korung National Park dogs are not permitted. Please note that recreational activities are not permitted on the reservoir. An exclusion zone exists around it and the streams flowing into it.
Although it is an important part of our water supply, we restrict vehicle access to this site. Please do not use the service road. It is steep and dangerous, it provides access for our vehicles and trucks, it is not a footpath.
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Toilets (not wheelchair accessible)
- On-site parking
Opening hours
Victoria Dam is open every day of the week (except public holidays) from 9am to 5pm.Directions
- Turn off Canning Road (S41) on to Masonmill Road, Carmel
- From the car park, you can reach the dam via the signposted walk trail
What to do
Take a picnic, make use of the BBQ facilities and enjoy the beautiful surrounds of Korung National Park. Take in the scenic bush from the lookout. Spot black cockatoos and other native wildlife that live in the area. If you visit between May and November you will be able to see the magnificent wildflower display.
A 7km walk trail will take you down to the catchment area. Learn about the area and history of the dam from the informative signs.
Operations
For operational enquiries please contact 13 13 75.
Planning a visit?
When visiting a dam, please follow these simple rules to ensure you and your family have a fun, memorable, and safe experience.
- Obey directional and informational signs
- Keep to pathways, roads and recreational areas
- Be aware of uneven ground and walking hazards
- Children must be within view of a responsible adult at all times
- Dogs are not permitted on site
- Swimming, canoeing, fishing and marroning is not permitted
- Drone use is not permitted
- Do not climb walls, fences, bridges, pipework or other operational infrastructure
- Do not trespass into signposted operational and ‘No Entry’ areas
- Never attempt to operate taps, valves or controls
- Do not deface safety and security signage
- Keep emergency and operational access gates and roadways clear
People and domestic animals naturally carry pathogens that can be transferred into streams and reservoirs when they have contact with the water. The pathogens can be difficult to remove, putting our drinking water at risk and potentially making people sick. There are also restrictions on other activities such as off-road driving, camping, lighting fires and littering. Failure to comply with these rules may result in an infringement or prosecution.
All Perth’s metropolitan and regional dams are proclaimed Public Drinking Water Source Areas and are protected under the Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Act 1909, the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 and the Water Services Act 2012. Access is not permitted on the reservoirs or in the streams flowing into it. Failure to comply may result in prosecution.
Please report unmarked safety hazards, suspicious behaviour or pollution to 13 13 75.
For additional information about any of our dams, please call us on 13 13 85.