Cardinia Reservoir

Cardinia Reservoir, a water supply dam that is located East of Melbourne, was built in 1970 and provides water for many suburbs in Melbourne.

The dam was constructed to supplement the dwindling supply of water in the 1960s, following shortages across the city. The choice of site was influenced by the presence of Cardinia Creek that meandered through the well-defined Dandenong Hill Ranges and down to the Western Port Bay. The dam took three years to construct.

After construction, Cardinia Reservoir took another four years to fill with water, a period of time that saw much of the water sourced from the Silvan Reservoir. At the time, government policy made it mandatory to add fluoride to water supply meant for the public. These advancements, coupled with the soaring demand for water, saw the exportation of bottled water to countries in Europe and America.

As Melbourne’s second-biggest water reservoir, Cardinia Dam also receives water from the Victorian Desalination Plant and this facilitates the supply of water to various parts of Melbourne.

One of the major attractions at Cardinia Reservoir is the stroll across the wall of the dam to behold the sheer enormity of this feat of engineering. The panoramic views, particularly in the morning, offer a stunning view of beautiful photography.

Unfortunately, access to the reservoir for boating or fishing is not permitted. Instead, many people come to the reservoir for long walks, BBQ’s and to watch the many kangaroos that live here. The best time to view the kangaroos is when they feed around dusk. Dogs are permitted in the Reservoir Lake Park but must remain on a leash at all times.