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Connolly Dam
Connolly Dam
	Rosenthal Creek after passing over Connolly Dam, 2022
	Location of the Connolly Dam in Queensland
Country	Australia
Location	Darling Downs, Queensland
Coordinates	28°21′36″S 152°00′06″E / 28.3600°S 152.0017°E
Purpose	Potable water supply;
Status	Operational
Opening date	1927;
Operator(s)	Southern Downs Regional Council
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Rosenthall Creek; Fitz Creek;
Height	22 m (72 ft)
Height (thalweg)	174 m (571 ft)
Length	145 m (476 ft)
Dam volume	115×103 m3 (4.1×106 cu ft)
Spillway type	Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity	540 m3/s (19,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	2,157 ML (0.474×109 imp gal; 0.570×109 US gal)
Catchment area	134 km2 (52 sq mi)
Surface area	52–55 ha (130–140 acres)
Maximum water depth	16 m (52 ft)

The Connolly Dam, also called the Silverwood Dam,^[4] is a rock–fill embankment dam with an un–gated spillway across the Rosenthall Creek and the Fitz Creek that is located in the locality of Silverwood, Southern Downs Region, part of the Darling Downs district of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Southern Downs Region.^[1]^[3] It discharges via Rosenthal Creek to join the Condamine River in east Warwick.^[2]

History

The dam was built to supply water to the town of Warwick. ^[2] The first sod was turned on Friendly Societies' Day in September 1926 by the Minister for Lands Thomas Dunstan.^[5]^[6] It was completed in 1927.^[2]

Originally known as Silverwood Dam, in September 1926, it was renamed Connolly Dam after Dan Connolly, who was Mayor of Warwick in 1910 and again from 1924 to 1932 and who had instigated in the creation of the dam.^[7]^[8]

Location and features

The dam is located in a mountain valley 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southeast of Warwick and approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the Border Rivers region that generally defines the border between Queensland and New South Wales.

The rock–fill dam structure is 21 metres (69 ft) high and 145 metres (476 ft) long. The 115-thousand-cubic-metre (4.1×10^⁶ cu ft) dam wall holds back the 2,157-megalitre (0.474×10^⁹ imp gal; 0.570×10^⁹ US gal) reservoir when at full capacity. The uncontrolled un-gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 710 cubic metres per second (25,000 cu ft/s).^[1] The dam is managed by the Southern Downs Regional Council.^[3]

Recreational activities

Golden perch, silver perch, Murray cod, spangled perch and eel-tailed catfish may be found in the reservoir. Golden perch dominate most catches for lure/fly anglers, while silver perch and eel-tailed catfish (dewfish) are more of a bait fishing prospect. A stocked impoundment permit is required to fish in the dam.^[9]

Connolly Dam is an "electric only" impoundment (outboards must be taken off) meaning only electric or manually powered craft may be used.^[10] Only members of the Warwick District Recreational Fish Stocking Association (WDRFSA) may take craft on the waterway, and only on weekends between sunrise and sunset. WDRFSA memberships are available from the caretaker at the dam currently costing $10. There is no boat ramp but there are many ideal locations around the dam to launch a boat. Membership cards must be shown to the caretaker prior to launching watercraft.

Camping is permitted at Connolly Dam. Toilets are provided at the lookout adjacent to dam wall.^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Local Dams". Warwick Events. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
^ "Connolly Dam ( Silverwood Dam ) - Warwick. Qld". Sweetwater Fishing Australia. Garry Fitzgerald. 2006. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
^ "SILVERWOOD DAM SOD-TURNING CEREMONY". Warwick Daily News. No. 2351. Queensland, Australia. 14 September 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "TURNING OF SOD". Warwick Daily News. No. 2351. Queensland, Australia. 14 September 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Connolly Dam – reservoir in Southern Downs Regional (entry 7937)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
^ "CONNOLLY DAM". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LXV, no. 231. Queensland, Australia. 27 September 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Do I need a permit to go fishing in a dam?". Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Queensland Government. 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
^ "Fishing & Boating". Southern Downs & Granite Belt. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
^ "Connolly Dam Camping Ground - Southern Downs Regional Council". www.sdrc.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 5 April 2021.