Eildon Dam, Dam in Victoria, Australia

Eildon Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam across the Goulburn River between Mansfield and Eildon. Its wall stands 83 metres high and 983 metres long, holding back Lake Eildon, which covers 13,832 hectares with an average depth of 24 metres.

The first structure, the Sugarloaf Reservoir, was built between 1915 and 1929; the first ground was cut by Mr Bain and Mr MacLean from Scotland. It was modified in 1929 and 1935 to reach 377 gigalitres. Enlargement began in 1951 and was completed in 1955, when the storage was renamed Lake Eildon.

The lake supports an active boating and fishing community, drawing both locals and visitors to its waters throughout the year. This recreational culture shapes how people experience the surrounding region.

The dam wall stands between Mansfield and Eildon, inside Lake Eildon National Park. The 5,200-megalitre pondage below the wall holds back water released by the power station, which runs mainly from August to May during the irrigation season. Houseboats launch from a public harbour with fuel and rental; some boats may only operate in daylight for lack of lighting.

The 1,085-metre controlled spillway has its crest at 288.9 metres AHD and can release about 3,356 cubic metres per second. Below the wall, a 5,200-megalitre pondage catches water from the power station, and since 1995 a 4.5-megawatt station has operated on it.