Lake Hume Dam wall walk

Lake Hume Dam wall walk created by Sean Mathews

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Summary

An easy and engaging return family walk that has great scenery plus the experience of historic engineering for water storage and electricity generation on the Victorian - New South Wales border.

Description

View the grand Lake Hume Dam wall set on the Murray River among rolling hills. There are facilities for all the family including sheltered seating, BBQ, potable water, viewing platforms and public toilets.

A wide sealed walkway gives easy access to the wall. The site is a good place to relax and take in views of the lake, river, dam wall, outflows, electricity turbines, transmission plant and surrounding vistas.

For the more history or technically minded there is plenty of engaging information to partake in through informative signs and displays. The dam wall was constructed during the interwar years 1919 - 1936 and is considered to this day to be a remarkable engineering accomplishment. Lake Hume capacity was expanded during the 1950s and the hydro electric power station added in 1957.

The lake is 40 meters in depth at its deepest and extends to 400km of shoreline. It has a capacity of 3,005 gigalitres - a massive 6 times the volume of Sydney Harbour.

Visit any time, but remember the wall is fully exposed to the elements, so be prepare accordingly.

There is a cafe close by in Lake Hume Village.

Dogs must be on a leash and under control at all times.

Other walks in the region
Sandy Creek Bridge walk, Huon
Bridges and Cuttings walk, Tallangatta
Waterfall and Darbyshire Hill trestle bridges walk
Mitta Bridge to Old Tallangatta
Playles Hill Lookout walk, Corryong
Koetong "Spa" and Wildflower walk

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Points of Interest

1. Murray Street

Murray Street, Lake Hume is barricaded to prevent driving on the dam wall itself. There are car parks either side of the barricades.

2. Right hand side car park

For those in urgent need, this car park delivers you directly to the public toilets. There is also a small open air museum hosting historic equipment.

3. Viewing platform

This right hand car park also offers the shortest path to a viewing platform from where you can observe the electricity plant and outflow side of the dam wall..

4. Left hand side car park

The car park opposite offers direct access to sheltered BBQ facilities, extensive waterside lawns with seating and views of the inflow side of the dam wall.

5. Dam wall access

The car parks are connected by a loop path that includes dam wall access. There is plenty of informative signage on site, but the original brass plaques are the ones that characterise the wall.

6. High pressure

With a massive weight of water behind them these lower pipes release a powerful gush of water.

7. A sense of grandeur

The tall housings and strong chains of the gate valves impart a sense of enduring strength.

8. The Murray River

Looking downstream along this iconic waterway and into the forested Murray River Reserve is a pretty sight.

9. The 24 gates

Viewing the 24 gates of the dam wall from the New South Wales - Victorian border on the other (Vic) side.

10. View to Bellbridge

If you keep walking across the Victorian embankment you can look back to view small Bellbridge township (where the Bellbridge Foreshore walk awaits).

11. The Victorian abutment

Dam wall access is also barricaded on the Victorian side to prevent unauthorised vehicle access. These barricades mark the point of return for this walk.