Diamonds… Hmmm, that would be nice, I didn’t get any new ones though. (I don’t think you’re actually allowed into the Argyle Diamond Mine – for obvious reasons)!
However, Lake Argyle will be a “diamond” memory. What an amazing place. The huge man-made lake, in amongst the Carr-Boyd Ranges, which are amazingly shaped and coloured, rocky mountains. For an unnaturally contrived phenomenon, it has so much natural beauty!
Lake Argyle was the second stage in the Ord River Scheme. Initially, the Lake Kununurra diversion dam had been created, whereby the irrigation to farming land was set up. The construction of the Lake Argyle dam wall was completed in 1971, and it was named after the station that it partly submerged - Argyle Downs. The Dam wall does not seem very big for the amount of water that is held back. It is about 330 metres long and 98 metres high, as it dams the Ord River. There is obviously a huge amount of run off from the surrounding mountain ranges. The lake was filled to capacity in 1973 and water ran over the Spillway, back into the River system, for the next 10 or so years. in 1996 the Spillway height was raised by 6 metres and this amazingly doubled the capacity of the Lakes water storage.
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| Taken from the dam wall, looking up the Ord River, towards Kununurra |
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| The dam wall from a lookout above - this is an earth-filled wall that holds back a huge amount of water! |
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| Dam wall in foreground - the only thing making the Lake!! |
Originally, rice was to be the crop of choice for the newly "wet" agricultural land, but Magpie Geese and other pests set this on a course to failure. There has been heaps of research into the development of other crops in the area. Currently, among a variety, Sandalwood is growing well, to be harvested in the next few years.
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| This year's overflow, rushing out of Spillway Creek. There were lots of "freshies" lining the banks of this raging torrent. |
This year, due to the big wet, there is a huge amount of water going over the spillway. Spillway Creek would currently be too dangerous to even 'white-water-raft' in! And the dam is what they term 200% full. The potential for water catchment is greatly under-utilised - I think the figure is about 9% is currently used in the irrigation system. There are now moves to open up further irrigated land around Kununurra. Meanwhile, another wet season is just around the corner ...
The story is told of the rush to get it finished, and the relocation of the Argyle Downs Homestead and other outbuildings that would be submerged when the dam filled. This was to happen prior to the next Wet Season. Nature is not to be controlled tho', and the rains came early that year. A descendant of the Durack Family owners says he was invited to view the area from the air as it began to fill, and was amazed to see how quickly the water rose to submerge the familiar landmarks. Needless to say, the Homestead and some important Station items were saved, but not all that had been planned.
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| Argyle Downs homestead, owned by the Duracks, was relocated prior to the lake filling - just! |
If you go to the link below you will see some great aerial shots of the lake - we weren't so lucky!
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| Jed and Lily enjoying the infinity pool at the Caravan Park! What a view, as the sunset! It was felt quite warm at Lake Argyle, probably 34-ish, so we swam both afternoons, but not for long - this was the coldest water in WA so far! |
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| The sun sets on another day in Paradise |
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