Lake Mary Ann
| Lake Mary Ann | |
|---|---|
 The dam wall and reservoir in 2018 | |
  Lake Mary Ann Location of the lake and dam in the Northern Territory | |
Interactive map of Lake Mary Ann | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Warumungu, near Tennant Creek, Northern Territory |
| Coordinates | 19°36′27″S 134°12′47″E / 19.607551°S 134.213147°E |
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1979 |
| Opening date | 24 April 1981 |
| Built by | Macmahon Constructions |
| Owners |
|
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Mary Ann Creek |
| Height (foundation) | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Length | 160 m (520 ft) |
| Dam volume | 28×103 m3 (990×103 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway capacity | 220 m3/s (7,800 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Mary Ann |
| Total capacity | 450 ML (360 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 27 ha (67 acres) |
| Maximum water depth | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 365 m (1,198 ft) AHD |
Lake Mary Ann (Warumungu: Tingkkarli) and previously known as Mary Ann Dam up until 7 December 2005,[1] is an earth- and rockfill embankment dam across the Mary Ann Creek, located approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Tennant Creek, in the Northern Territory of Australia. Situated just off the Stuart Highway and completed in 1980, the resultant reservoir was built exclusively for recreational purposes. Some water sports, such as swimming or canoeing, can be conducted surrounded by landscaped grassy areas on one side and natural bushland on the other.
History
The Waramungu people have lived in the area of Tingkkarli for thousands of years. After colonisation, it was pegged as mining lease GML441E by Nugget Wilson and Bill Howes and Harold Williams.[2][3] Wilson and Howes named the mine 'Mary Ann' after their respective daughters Mary Jean and Wendy Ann.[4] The nearby watercourse then became known as Mary Ann Creek or Mary Ann Billabong.[5]
Originally the site was investigated with a view to increase the water supply for Tennant Creek and Peko Mine in the late 1940s, and later again in the mid-1950s. In 1977, local residents proposed that a recreational dam could be constructed close to Tennant Creek. The Northern Territory Government supported the proposal and construction commenced during 1979 and 1980.[6]
The dam wall was completed in April 1980, was filled for the first time in January 1981, and was officially opened on 24 April 1981 by the Hon Ian Tuxworth, named as the Mary Ann Dam.[7][8] In December 2005, the reservoir was renamed as Lake Mary Ann.[1]
The earth and rock-filled dam wall is 11 metres (36 ft) high and 143 metres (469 ft) long and contains 17,000 cubic metres (600,000 cu ft) of rockfill. The impounded reservoir, when full, holds a maximum of 450 megalitres (360 acre⋅ft) and covers 27 hectares (67 acres), drawn from a catchment area of 9 square kilometres (3.5 sq mi).[9] The uncontrolled spillway has capacity of 220 cubic metres per second (7,800 cu ft/s).[10]
In 2014, a Federal Court determined seven native title claims in the area of Lake Mary Ann covering 37,000 square kilometres (14,000 sq mi).[11]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Place Names Register Extract for Lake Mary Ann". NT Place Names Register. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ↑ "Around The Territory TENNANT CREEK NEWSLETTER". Northern Standard. Vol. 4, no. 148. Northern Territory, Australia. 25 March 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 2 December 2018 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Advertising". Centralian Advocate. Vol. VIII, no. 369. Northern Territory, Australia. 2 July 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 2 December 2018 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Mary Ann Dam". For Tennant Creekers. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ↑ "TENNANT CREEK NOTES". Centralian Advocate. Vol. VII, no. 339. Northern Territory, Australia. 4 December 1953. p. 17. Retrieved 2 December 2018 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Lake Mary Ann". Tennant Creek Town Council. Archived from the original on 23 June 2005.
- ↑ "Plaque". Territory Stories (Photograph). 24 April 1981. hdl:10070/2832.
- ↑ "Plaque - Mary Ann Dam". Territory Stories. hdl:10070/2832. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ↑ Lloyd, D.; Townsend, S. "Water Quality of Mary Ann Dam". Territory Stories. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ↑ "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 334). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ↑ "Federal Court determines Native Title". Northern Land Council. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2023.