Camballin Irrigation Scheme, Agricultural irrigation system in Western Australia
The Camballin Irrigation Scheme is an agricultural water system in Western Australia that includes a river barrage, the Seventeen Mile Dam, pump stations, and channels spreading across the landscape. The infrastructure featured grain storage silos at Broome Jetty and water management facilities, with a levee bank about 17 kilometers long built to protect against floods.
The system was established in the 1950s by Western Australia's Public Works Department as a major infrastructure project. It operated for several decades before being shut down in 1983 due to severe flooding problems that made continued operation difficult.
The scheme brought rice farming to the region and allowed farmers to experiment with different crops like sorghum, oats, and cotton. These new cultivation methods shifted how people approached agriculture in the area.
The site is located in the Kimberley region and is best visited during the dry season when roads are more reliable for travel. Most of the remaining structures are spread across remote areas, so exploration requires careful planning and preparation.
The scheme connected the Fitzroy River Barrage to an extensive network of irrigation channels across the Kimberley region. This integrated water management approach was innovative for its time, attempting to harness the river's natural flow patterns for farming.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
