Gosling Creek Dam is a
decommissioned minor
earth and rock fill with clay core embankment dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, a ...
with
concrete chute spillway across the Gosling Creek upstream of
Orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
in the
central western region of
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. Commissioned in 1890 to supply Orange with
potable water
Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, ag ...
, the dam was decommissioned after the official commissioning of the
Suma Park Dam
Suma Park Dam is a concrete arch dam across the Summer Hill Creek in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is to supply potable water to the city of Orange. The impounded reservoir
A reservoir ( ...
in 1962. The impounded
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...
is called Gosling Creek Reservoir and is now used for recreation purposes.
Location and features
Commenced in 1888 and officially
inaugurated
In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inaugu ...
in 1890, the Gosling Creek Dam is a minor dam that has since been decommissioned on the Gosling Creek, approximately south of the city of Orange and provided the first town water supply to the city;
constructed at a cost of
A£
The pound (Sign: £, £A for distinction) was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 14 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. As with other £sd currencies, it was subdivided into 20 shillings (denoted by the symbol s ...
, borne by the
Orange City Council. Additional dams for water supply were completed in 1918 at built at
Meadow Creek Dam and then
Spring Creek Reservoir in 1931.
The dam wall height is and is long. The maximum water depth is and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water. The surface area of Gosling Creek Reservoir is and the catchment area is . The ungated concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging .
Gosling Creek was named after Jonathon W. Gosling, a free settler who arrived in Australia by ship in 1827 and the first property owner in the district.
Gosling Creek Reservoir is no longer used for water supply purposes, and in recent years the Orange City Council has developed the area as a recreation reserve. Facilities include a pedestrian and cycle way system, playground, bird hide, passive recreation areas. The reservoir was previously surrounded by pine plantations which have been logged and progressively replaced by native vegetation plantings.
In May, 2007 the nearby
Cadia mine approached Orange City Council with a request to obtain water from Gosling Creek Reservoir for mining purposes due to their dwindling water supplies as a result of the ongoing drought.
See also
*
List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales
References
External links
*
*
*
{{WaterNSW , state=autocollapse
Central West (New South Wales)
Dams completed in 1890
Dams in New South Wales
Embankment dams