Fifty years on, Julius Dam continues to sustain outback communities
When Julius Dam opened in 1976, it was hailed as the answer to Mount Isa's water shortages. Half a century later, the engineering achievement continues to support communities and industry across North West Queensland.
Fifty years after its construction, Julius Dam continues to be a vital source of water for outback communities and mining operations in North West Queensland. The dam's unique design, featuring 18m wide concrete arches, allows excess water to flow over the structure during high water levels, preventing any damage to the dam. Julius Dam, located about 70 kilometres north-east of Mount Isa, can hold 107,500 megalitres of water, equivalent to one-fifth of Sydney Harbour's volume.
Initially built to supplement Mount Isa's water supply, the dam's role has expanded over the years, providing water to the Ernest Henry copper and gold mine near Cloncurry and Cloncurry itself. Despite the region's long dry periods, Julius Dam has spilled every year for the past decade, ensuring a reliable water supply for the area.
Its ongoing maintenance and the skills of a seven-person team based in Cloncurry are crucial to its future operation.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
