Building Aroona Dam
In February 1951 South Australian Premier Thomas Playford announced plans to construct a water reservoir at Leigh Creek. Later that year ETSA reported preliminary work had begun on a 1,650 million gallon dam at Aroona Gorge, about eight miles from Telford. The concrete dam was to be 65 feet high and hold enough water to supply the Leigh Creek area for 3 years. Some 80,000 tons of gravel and sand was collected from nearby creek beds and grading equipment and concrete plant were constructed. In 1952 the foundations were completed and construction of the wall commenced in January 1953. It was built in 20 monoliths, of which 12 are in the main creek bed and 8 in the eastern and western abutments. At the peak of the project more than 150 men made up the Aroona Dam construction gang. In October 1954 the dam filled to the top of the concrete monoliths while construction was still in progress and by mid-November of the same year the Leigh Creek township received its first dam water via a new pipeline. The project was completed in September 1955 at a cost of almost one million pounds (about 25% over budget). In January 1962 the dam overflowed for the first time.
Sliding Rock
Leigh Creek's water was initially supplied from underground bores at Sliding Rock - 48 kilometres away. The water was poor quality and not very reliable. To develop and sustain a viable coal mine an alterative supply was required.
Aroona Waterhole
Aroona waterhole, known locally at that time as Aroona Waters, was one of two sites considered for construction of a dam. As it was part of the Myrtle Springs pastoral lease, transfer of ownership of the land had to be negotiated before construction could commence.
David Stanley was still in his twenties when he was appointed supervisor for the Aroona dam. He served in WW2 before completing an electrical engineering degree at the University of Adelaide. He went to Leigh Creek with his wife and two children in 1950. Initially, he worked on the construction of the Northfield power station. After working on the dam for five years he was transferred to Pt Augusta to work on construction of the Port Augusta “A” power station.
“When you got to Leigh Creek you had one job given to you and away you went. As soon as you finished it you got another. That’s how I got the dam.”
Preparing for Construction 1952
Pouring the Concrete 1953-1955
FLOOD WATER CRASHES OVER THE DAM BEFORE IT IS COMPLETED - 1954
Details of the construction of Aroona Dam have been collected from ETSA publications, original newspaper clippings and Nic Klaassen’s book “Leigh Creek – An Oasis in the Desert”. Except where annotated differently, all original ETSA photos were shared by the Leigh Creek Community Progress Association.