Medlow Dam, Heritage dam in Medlow Bath, New South Wales, Australia
Medlow Dam is a concrete arch structure built to control water flow and supply communities across the middle and upper Blue Mountains. The wall grows progressively thicker from top to base, creating a curved barrier that stores water within a surrounding catchment zone.
This structure was completed in 1907 by the NSW Public Works Department, introducing a bold new approach to arch dam design that moved away from established engineering traditions. The innovative thin-wall method used here influenced how engineers would later build similar projects in the region.
The site holds recognition as a heritage landmark that represents an important moment in Australian engineering practice and local water management. Visitors can observe how the structure has become part of the region's identity through its official heritage status.
Visitors should wear sturdy footwear when approaching the site, as the terrain around it can be uneven and slippery, especially after rain. Checking conditions locally before visiting helps ensure a safe and rewarding experience of the surrounding landscape.
When first completed, this structure stood as one of the world's thinnest arch dams, with walls barely wider than a meter at the crest. This extreme thinness represented a bold engineering gamble that worked, proving the concept could succeed on a global scale.
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