Warragamba Dam
HISTORY
Warragamba's history is inseparable from the mighty Warragamba Dam.
The building of Sydney's Warragamba Dam from the 1940s through to its opening in 1960. is a story told through the eyes of those who were there; the engineers and workers who came from all around Australia and overseas, to live in the new township of Warragamba, built to service one of the largest dam projects in the world.
The town was built from scratch, including homes, shops, schools and other facilities. On completion of the dam being built many workers bought their homes from the Water Board and stayed on in the township.
The construction brought job opportunities, drawing workers from far and wide. It was a challenging endeavor, marked by hard labor and perseverance. But it also fostered a sense of unity and shared purpose among the townsfolk. They worked tirelessly to build a structure that would provide water security for Sydney and the surrounding regions.
The dam's completion was celebrated with a grand ceremony, attended by dignitaries and townspeople alike. It symbolised not only the triumph of engineering but also the strength of community spirit.
Warragamba Dam became a source of pride, a testament to the town's resilience and its commitment to supporting the larger community. Tours of the dam allowed visitors to learn about its history and significance, fostering a deeper connection between Warragamba and the world beyond its borders.
AFRICAN LION SAFARI
The park continued to hold animals there that were used in a circus. During 1995 a lioness escaped from the park and killed a dog, the lioness was also killed. As a result of the escape, the park was required to upgrade facilities. A bear had also previously escaped and was shot by residents.
I remember visiting Warragamba as a child, and in particular remember driving through the African Lion Safari. Those days are gone now- I'm sure my parents have photos of these visits and of the dam and will have to hunt them down...
TODAY
Warragamba Dam is an ideal spot for a picnic, barbeque, and sightseeing. Facilities are set in natural bushland surroundings and include picnic shelters, shade trees, barbeques, and children's playgrounds. There is also a Visitor Information Centre, which has lots of information on the history of the Dam and its construction.The Warragamba Dam Viewing Platform is located at the end of Eighteenth St, Warragamba, with views of the Dam and the new auxiliary spillway.
The early days of the building of the dam.
Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam
I was thinking of the old days at Warragamba, late 40's to the dam opening in 1960 when as pupils of Warragamba public school we marched to the dam, the school band playing.
ReplyDeleteToday it is not the same dam, the wall has been raised and new spillway added, nothing like the original structure at all. My mates and I playing in the dam precincts during construction, sometimes being chased by workmen, we were buggers, but had the fun we made. No TV 'til 57, we had radio serials in the evenings, I had a crystal set in my bedroom and lay in bed at night listening to serials; we had regular blackouts so out came the Kero lanterns, one of the worst hailstorms when nearly every house in the dam suffered some damage, smashed windows; and that bush fire of 57 also.
The bread and milk came by horse and cart, and ice for the old silent night fridge. No hot water, but the old chip heater did the trick, and the Metters or Bega stove in the kitchen and copper in the laundry for wash day, pegged up on the clothes lines in the backyard, no hills hoist then. The Waltons man used to call, girls saved up the labels from Lan Choo tea packets to get enough of them to earn free things for their 'glory box', the radio licence man used to knock on the door, and we made billy carts to race down the streets. And fishing for mullet in the basins, caught lots of carp too. School plays, the flicks and vaccinations in the town hall...and when TV came out, watching it in the window of the local Electrical shop window, 'til we got one from H.G. Palmer. And then the TV repair man would call in often to replace a valve. High school came and that meant the daily return trip in the old Double decker bus we nicknamed the 'wrecker,' to Penrith High, then to Nepean High at Emu Plains when completed; ah yes the good old days at Warragamba.