Upper Yarra Reservoir
The Upper Yarra Reservoir is located east of Melbourne, past Warburton. Water from Upper Yarra Reservoir supplies towns in the upper Yarra Valley and Silvan Reservoir, which transfers water to most parts of Melbourne.
Upper Yarra Reservoir has a capacity of 200,000 megalitres (million litres) and was completed in 1957. In 1888, the Upper Yarra catchment was permanently reserved for water supply purposes. Approval to construct Upper Yarra Reservoir was granted in the early 1940s but due to the War work did not start until 1948. When the Upper Yarra Reservoir was completed, the total storage capacity of Melbourne's system was tripled to nearly 300,000 megalitres.
Area of catchment
33,670 hectares
Type of dam
Rolled earthfill and rockfill embankment
Maximum height of main dam from river to crest
90 metres
Length measured along top of dam
610 metres
Surface area (top water level)
750 hectares