Laanecoorie Weir
Encyclopedia
Laanecoorie Weir or Laanecoorie Reservoir, is a water storage for irrigation
and domestic purposes on the Loddon River
, near the towns of Eddington, Victoria
and Laanecoorie, Victoria
. It was designed by construction engineer Andrew O'Keefe
(d. 1904) in conjunction with Joshua Thomas Noble Anderson
. This was the second irrigation scheme for Victoria after the Goulburn Weir
. Construction commenced in 1889 and took three years to build, but the great flood of 1909 burst the weir sending 18.3 million cubic metres of through the breach and causing sever damage to all towns down stream.
Laanecoorie was part of the “Simpson Run” and in 1840 “Janevale” home was named after Simpson’s wife. Gold was discovered around Laanecoorie at “Jones Creek” in 1853 and later on at “Poseidon” in 1906. The first farm in the area was selected by Lyon brothers in 1857 and the first bridge at Laanecoorie over the Loddon River was built in 1870, but was destroyed along with the weir in the flood of 1909. Sir John Monash
(famous W.W.1 General) designed and built a new bridge of reinforced concrete beam and slab construction, which still remains today.
The largest outlet valves in Victoria were installed at Laanecoorie weir in 1891, manufactured by the United Iron Work of Abraham Roberts.
The present capacity of the Laanecoorie Reservoir is about 7770 ML, although substantial siltation since construction has reduced the original capacity by an estimated 12000 ML. The towns of Tarnagulla, Dunolly, and Laanecoorie obtain supply by diversion from the Loddon River downstream of the reservoir.
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
and domestic purposes on the Loddon River
Loddon River
The Loddon River is a 392-km long tributary of the Murray River that flows through central and northern Victoria, Australia. The river rises near Trentham and flows by Glenlyon. It then flows generally northward through Guildford and Newstead, 40 km west of Bendigo through the Cairn Curran...
, near the towns of Eddington, Victoria
Eddington, Victoria
Eddington is a small town on the Loddon River in Central Victoria, Australia. It is approximately north-west of Maldon, SE of Dunolly, ENE of Maryborough and south-west of Bendigo...
and Laanecoorie, Victoria
Laanecoorie, Victoria
Laanecoorie is a locality situated on the Loddon river Laanecoorie is a locality situated on the Loddon river Laanecoorie is a locality situated on the Loddon river ( in Victoria, Australia. It has a community hall, church, and caravan Park.Laanecoorie was originally part of the “Simpson Run”...
. It was designed by construction engineer Andrew O'Keefe
Andrew O'Keefe
Andrew Patrick O'Keefe is an Australian entertainer, best known for being the host of the hit game-show Deal or No Deal. He is also the co-host of Weekend Sunrise....
(d. 1904) in conjunction with Joshua Thomas Noble Anderson
Joshua Thomas Noble Anderson
Joshua Thomas Noble Anderson was an engineer practising in Melbourne, Australia, and New Zealand during the difficult times in the Depressions of the 1890s and 1930s, but still practised innovative engineering in these periods.-Early career and migration to Australia:Anderson, known commonly by...
. This was the second irrigation scheme for Victoria after the Goulburn Weir
Goulburn Weir
Goulburn Weir is a weir built between 1887 and early 1891 across the Goulburn River near Nagambie, Victoria, Australia. It was the first major diversion structure built for irrigation development in Australia. The weir also forms Lake Nagambie where rowing regattas and waterskiing tournaments are...
. Construction commenced in 1889 and took three years to build, but the great flood of 1909 burst the weir sending 18.3 million cubic metres of through the breach and causing sever damage to all towns down stream.
Laanecoorie was part of the “Simpson Run” and in 1840 “Janevale” home was named after Simpson’s wife. Gold was discovered around Laanecoorie at “Jones Creek” in 1853 and later on at “Poseidon” in 1906. The first farm in the area was selected by Lyon brothers in 1857 and the first bridge at Laanecoorie over the Loddon River was built in 1870, but was destroyed along with the weir in the flood of 1909. Sir John Monash
John Monash
General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD was a civil engineer who became the Australian military commander in the First World War. He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the War and then became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt shortly after the outbreak of the War with whom he took part...
(famous W.W.1 General) designed and built a new bridge of reinforced concrete beam and slab construction, which still remains today.
The largest outlet valves in Victoria were installed at Laanecoorie weir in 1891, manufactured by the United Iron Work of Abraham Roberts.
The present capacity of the Laanecoorie Reservoir is about 7770 ML, although substantial siltation since construction has reduced the original capacity by an estimated 12000 ML. The towns of Tarnagulla, Dunolly, and Laanecoorie obtain supply by diversion from the Loddon River downstream of the reservoir.