Burdekin Dam at last

Yesterday we moved on to Ravenswood showground, about 40kms SE of Charters Towers, where John and Marg have been while we were at The Towers.  Once we set up in this rather pleasant place (plenty of room, good amenities and only $14 per night- less if you stay a week), we all drove to Burdekin Falls and Dam, another 87 kms.  On the way you cross many creeks, most with sandy bottoms, quite pretty really.  You also pass many, many roos/wallabies- we must have seen more than 100, on the road in and actually at the dam.   There were at least 3 distinct species, different sizes and colours.  The most common were a light grey shade which we hadn't come across previously, but great camouflage in the prevailing yellowy grass.  Several times when we were looking at one, we would be surprised to find there were several others which we didn't see till they moved.  We only managed one photo, taken from a distance and enlarged so not too clear.

                              Roos in Burdekin Dam park


At first glance, the dam was quite disappointing- there's a huge long earthen wall stretching for more than a kilometre.  You continue driving up a hill to the lookout, even more disappointing- you can see some of the lake, but not a lot, and nothing of the dam itself. We didn't bother taking photos at this point, but driving some distance further we came to the boat ramp, where there are toilets and a nice park.  From here we could see where the spillway was, and were surprised to see a warning sign.

How could there be crocs above the dam?  We discussed this at length. They'd have to be freshwater crocs, which are not dangerous.  Wouldn't they?  (Apparently not.  We were later told that they are salties, the dangerous kind- heaven knows how they managed to get across the rocks - see below- but they do exist in the lake, which also explains why there was a warning sign near Macrossan Park, further up the Burdekin River.)


The guys set their redclaw traps from the bank of the lake, which is called Lake Dalrymple.  It holds 4 times the volume of Sydney Harbour, apparently.  

                Baiting the red claw traps at Lake Dalrymple


Continuing along the road, we finally reached the dam itself, and wondered where the falls were, but all was explained when we walked out on the suspended viewing platform. The Falls are below the spillway.  This is a mighty river, and it must have been even more so before the dam.  We've crossed it several times, each time on an extremely long bridge, because the river banks are widely separated.  It must hold a huge volume when it's in flood.

                           Burdekin Dam spillway

                      Burdekin Falls, just below the spillway


The road below the dam was closed due to water over the road, a pity- it would have been interesting the see the falls from a closer position.  There's a very nice picnic area near the viewing platform and a camping area on top of the hill, currently being refurbished so there are few sites available.  There's a swimming pool and BBQ area- $15 per night to stay there. 


Ravenswood, where we are located, is a heritage town which looks interesting, though we haven't explored it yet.  Gold was discovered here prior to Charters Towers' discovery, and there is still a goldmine operating.