It’s been nearly 160 years since the construction of Enoggera Dam — Queensland’s first major dam and part of Brisbane’s early water supply.

Built in 1866 using pick and shovel hand tools and horse-drawn carts, the dam was a remarkable engineering feat of its time and is one of the few nineteenth century dams still in existence.

To honour its legacy, Engineers Australia awarded the site an Engineering Heritage Marker – one of only a few across the country each year - to celebrate its historical and engineering significance. The new interpretation panels installed on-site now share the dam’s story with visitors, celebrating its role in shaping Brisbane’s water story.

Paul Coghlan, Member, Engineering Heritage QLD, reflected that Enoggera Dam was one of the largest dams built in Australia at the time.

“It was designed and built by engineer Joseph Brady on Enoggera Creek, 11 kilometres from the city from which water could be gravity fed to a service reservoir on Wickham Terrace – the highest point of the city at the time,” he said.

The dam has since undergone multiple upgrades, and although it’s not been part of the local water supply since 2011– Enoggera Dam remains an emergency water source as part of Seqwater’s drought preparedness measures.

It is also a much-loved recreation site, attracting thousands of visitors each year who enjoy swimming, paddle craft, fishing, bush walking and mountain biking in the great outdoors.

Seqwater CEO, Emma Thomas, said Enoggera Dam was built to sustain a growing Brisbane and marked the beginning of the state’s commitment to securing water for its communities.

“Looking at the dam today, we see a symbol of previous generations’ foresight and resilience to ensuring a sustainable water supply for future generations,” said Ms Thomas.

Opportunities to look at the past like this are a fantastic reminder that water is a shared inheritance. What we do today, the decisions we will make on how we source and protect our water, will shape the lives of future generations,” she said.

“As we look ahead, the future of South East Queensland’s water will depend on our innovation, collaboration and investment into our physical infrastructure, technology and people.  

“Seqwater is investing in record levels of capital expenditure to deliver new and upgraded infrastructure, increasing our resilience against more frequent extreme weather events, and expanding our engagement efforts with the communities we serve to foster a shared responsibility for protecting the water supply we all rely on,” she said.