Boyd Gorge Dam

Boyd Gorge Dam
Location	Mannsbridge, BEAU
Status	Operational
Construction began	1931
Opening date	1 March 1942
Owner(s)	Water Corporation
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Concrete gravity
Impounds	River Boyd
Height	330 feet (100 m)
Length	1,610 feet (490 m)
Width (crest)	33 feet (10 m)
Width (base)	230 feet (70 m)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Burleigh
Max. water depth	230 feet (70 m)
Power station
Operator(s)	Australis Electricity
Commission date	16 March 1942 (1942-03-16)
Type	Conventional
Hydraulic head	210 feet (64 m)
Turbines	4 × 120 MW Francis turbines
Installed capacity	480 MW
Capacity factor	27.6%
Annual generation	11,611 GW·h
Location map
Boyd Gorge Dam is located in Guelphia Boyd Gorge Dam
Rivers and lakes of New Ingrea List of power stations in New Ingrea

The Boyd Gorge Dam is a hydro-electric dam located across the River Boyd near the village of Mannsbridge, Beaufortshire. The power station associated with dam is the fifth largest electricity generating station in New Ingrea, and is operated by Australis Electricity.

History

Background

Plans to dam the River Boyd can be first dated back to the nineteenth century.

Construction

Construction of the Boyd Gorge Dam began as an unemployment relief project in 1931, with Prime Minister William Burdett turning the ceremonial first sod. The entire construction process took 11 years, and cost just under £7 million to complete.

Design and specification

The Boyd Gorge Dam is a gravity dam made entirely of sold concrete.

The reservoir created by the dam has been named Lake Burleigh in honour of Donald Burleigh, 1st Earl Burleigh, who served as Prime Minister of New Ingrea between 1932 and 1946. For his entire adult life, Burleigh was trenchant advocate for the creation of a hydro-electric projects across New Ingrea. Lake Burleigh also holds the record of being the second-largest lake in New Ingrea.