Toonumbar Dam - NSW

Toonumbar Dam is situated on Iron Pot Creek about 30 kilometres west of Kyogle on the NSW North Coast and about 750 kilometres north of Sydney.

The dam was completed in 1971 to provide water for irrigation, stock and domestic requirements in the Richmond Valley.

Toonumbar is an Aboriginal word meaning heelmark.

Toonumbar Dam was built to provide a reliable supply of water for irrigation in the Richmond Valley, meet downstream stock and domestic needs, and provide flood mitigation and environmental flows.

The dam’s 98 square kilometre catchment falls largely within the Richmond Range and Toonumbar national parks featuring rugged mountain terrain of steep ridges and deep gullies.

Toonumbar Dam is a rock-fill embankment with a clay core. The wall is 229 metres long and 44 metres high. A concrete chute spillway is located just south of the dam wall.

Construction began in 1969 and finished in 1971.

A lookout and picnic area just north of the dam wall provides excellent views of the lake and its rugged bush shoreline.

Toonumbar Dam is regularly stocked with bass which are the top catch. Fishing is best on the water by canoe or boat but the foreshores also provide fishing spots. Access is via boat ramp – at Bells Bay 3km north of the wall.

Water sports include power boats, sailing, canoeing and swimming. There is an 8kph speed limit for power boats. Canoes are available for hire.