Millbrook Dam

{{short description|Dam and reservoir in Adelaide, South Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}} {{Infobox dam | name = Millbrook Dam | name_official = | image = Millbrook reservoir - Adelaide.jpg | image_size = 250 | image_caption = The eastern part of the reservoir in 2007 | image_alt = | location_map = South Australia | location_map_size = 250 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam<br />in South Australia | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|34.833039|S|138.808638|E|region:AU-SA_type:landmark_source:GNS-enwiki|format=dms|display=it}} | country = Australia | location = Adelaide, South Australia | purpose = W | status = O | construction_began = 1914 | opening = 1918 | demolished = | cost = | builder = | designed_by = | owner = Government of South Australia | operator = SA Water | dam_type = F | dam_crosses = ''Off-stream'' | dam_height_foundation = {{cvt|32|m}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|288|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|282|e3m3}} | spillway_count = | spillway_type = Uncontrolled | spillway_length = | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|340|m3/s}} | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate = | spillway_type2 = | spillway_length2 = | spillway_capacity2 = | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2 = | spillway_type3 = | spillway_length3 = | spillway_capacity3 = | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3 = | res_name = '''Millbrook Reservoir''' | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|16.5|GL|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive = | res_catchment = {{cvt|38|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|178|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|301|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | lower_dam_type = | lower_dam_crosses = | lower_dam_height_foundation = | lower_dam_height_thalweg = | lower_dam_length = | lower_dam_elevation_crest = | lower_dam_width_crest = | lower_dam_width_base = | lower_dam_volume = | lower_spillway_count = | lower_spillway_type = | lower_spillway_length = | lower_spillway_capacity = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate = | lower_spillway_type2 = | lower_spillway_length2 = | lower_spillway_capacity2 = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2 = | lower_spillway_type3 = | lower_spillway_length3 = | lower_spillway_capacity3 = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3 = | lower_res_name = | lower_res_capacity_total = | lower_res_capacity_active = | lower_res_capacity_inactive = | lower_res_catchment = | lower_res_surface = | lower_res_max_length = | lower_res_max_width = | lower_res_max_depth = | lower_res_elevation = | lower_res_tidal_range = | plant_name = | plant_coordinates =  | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_hydraulic_head = | plant_turbines = | plant_pumpgenerators = | plant_pumps = | plant_capacity = | plant_capacity_factor = | plant_efficiency = | plant_storage_hours = | plant_annual_gen = | plant_annual_gen_year = | website = | extra = }} The '''Millbrook Dam''' is an off-stream earth-filled embankment dam, located in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Completed in 1918, the resultant reservoir, the '''Millbrook Reservoir''', was built to supply potable water to Adelaide's eastern suburbs and to control water flows in the upper River Torrens. The dam and reservoir were named after the small town of Millbrook,{{efn|John Tippett named the town of Millbrook in the late 19th century after Millbrook in his native Cornwall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/tippett.htm |title=John Tippett |last=Klaassen |first=Nic |publisher=Flinders Ranges Research |access-date=9 July 2008}}</ref>}} that was demolished and removed during construction.

== Overview == The dam was built from 1914 to 1918 during World War I and provides gravity-fed water to Adelaide. The earth-filled dam wall is {{convert|32|m}} high and {{convert|288|m}} long. When full, the reservoir has capacity of {{convert|16.5|GL|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers a surface area of {{convert|178|ha}}, drawn from a catchment area of {{convert|38|km2}}. The uncontrolled spillway has a flow capacity of {{convert|340|m3/s}}.<ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=2026-03-05 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=ANCOLD |format=Excel. Requires download. Row 350}}</ref><ref name=SAwater1 />

During the 1970s, the nearby town of {{SAcity|Chain of Ponds}} was also removed to prevent pollution of the reservoir's water.<ref name=SAwater1>{{cite web |url=http://www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/Templates/Generic.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7b5F2F9F9A-2BA5-440F-8120-B6047D72AECB%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2fSAWater%2fEducation%2fOurWaterSystems%2fWater%2bStorage%2b%28Reservoirs%29%2ehtm&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#Millbrook |title=Water Storage (Reservoirs), Millbrook |year=2004 |work=SA Water |access-date=8 July 2008 }}</ref> The dam lies adjacent to the Chain of Ponds Creek, a tributary of the River Torrens. Water in the reservoir is piped from a weir near Gumeracha but it is also used to balance storage of River Murray water via the Mannum–Adelaide pipeline. It also captures approximately half of the Torrens' water flow.<ref name=govtreport2005>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Committees/Standing/HA/PublicWorksCommittee/CompletedInquiries/Water/Report231MillbrookReservoirSafetyUpgrade/ReportMillbrookReservoir.htm |author=SA Water |publisher=Parliament of South Australia |date=12 December 2005 |access-date=9 July 2008 |title=Millbrook Reservoir Dam Safety |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727164541/http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Committees/Standing/HA/PublicWorksCommittee/CompletedInquiries/Water/Report231MillbrookReservoirSafetyUpgrade/ReportMillbrookReservoir.htm |archivedate=27 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery> Millbrook Reservoir Wall under Construction(GN01519).jpg|Dam wall under construction, 1914 Millbrook Reservoir Construction(GN01528).jpg|Dam construction workers, 1915 Millbrook Reservoir - viewed from hill behind valve house(GN02524).jpg|Dam wall, 1918 Channel which takes Millbrook Reservoir water to Hope Valley Reservoir(GN04289).jpg|The off-stream channel which connects the Millbrook Reservoir with the Hope Valley Reservoir, 1920 </gallery>

==See also== {{stack|{{portal|South Australia|Water}}}} *List of reservoirs and dams in South Australia

== Notes == {{noteslist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons cat-inline|Millbrook Reservoir}}

Category:1918 establishments in Australia Category:Buildings and structures in Adelaide Category:Dams completed in 1918 Category:Dams in South Australia Category:Earth-filled dams Category:Reservoirs in South Australia