Lake Parramatta

Lake Parramatta
Masonry arch dam wall
Location of Lake Parramatta in Greater Sydney
Country	Australia
Location	North Parramatta, Sydney
Coordinates	33°47′24″S 151°00′27″E / 33.79000°S 151.00750°E / -33.79000; 151.00750
Purpose	Domestic
Status	Decommissioned
Construction began	1855
Opening date	September 1856 (1856-09)
Construction cost	£17,000
Owner(s)	City of Parramatta
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch dam
Impounds	Hunts Creek
Height	15 m (49 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Parramatta
Total capacity	485 ML (17.1×10^6 cu ft)
Active capacity	450 ML (16×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area	8 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Surface area	10.5 ha (26 acres)

Lake Parramatta is a heritage-listed man-made reservoir and a recreational area located in North Parramatta, City of Parramatta, in the Western Sydney region of New South Wales, Australia. The masonry arch-walled dam across Hunts Creek was completed in 1856 to supply water for domestic purposes; and was operational until 1909. The dam has since been decommissioned and the lake and the surrounding nature reserve are a popular recreational area.^[1]

The precinct contains a 73-hectare (180-acre) nature reserve, the largest bushland remnant surviving in the Parramatta LGA.^[1] The 8-square-kilometre (3.1 sq mi) catchment area for Lake Parramatta is bounded by North Rocks Road, Pennant Hills Road and Hunts Creek.^[2] The height of the dam wall is 15 metres (49 ft) and it creates a lake with a maximum storage capacity of 485 megalitres (17.1×10^⁶ cu ft), with a surface area of approximately 10.5 hectares (26 acres).^[3]

The dam was the twelfth engineered dam built since Roman times 100BC, the first in Australia, and the second arch built universally that involved calculations for its construction.^[4] Water from this dam was not reticulated until 1881 when it was required to augment the then dwindling water supply. The dam wall is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in recognition of its significance relating to dam technology in Australia arch dams worldwide;^[5] and has an indicative listing on the Register of the National Estate.^[6] It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 March 2012.^[7]

On 5 December 2012 the Governor proclaimed Lake Parramatta Reserve as a 'Wildlife Refuge’ under Section 68 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The proclamation was in recognition of the diversity of wildlife and threatened species which occur in the reserve.^[8] Swimming in Lake Parramatta was permitted between 1920 and 1940; and after a prolonged period of closure due to poor water quality, was reopened to the public in 2015. Entry to the reserve is from Lackey Street, North Parramatta.^[9]