Yan Yean Reservoir

Yan Yean Reservoir is the oldest water supply for the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Completed in 1857, it was the world's largest artificial reservoir at the time. Managed by Melbourne Water, it is located in Yan Yean, 30 km north of the city, and built on the Plenty River. The reservoir has an embankment 9.5 metres high and holds back 30,000 ML of water.

The reservoir's name Yan Yean refers to the Aboriginal leader "Yan Yan," who signed the Batman's Treaty in 1835. Construction of Yan Yean Reservoir started on December 20, 1853, and took four years to complete at a cost of £750,000. Water quality was an issue initially, but it was remedied by bypassing the Plenty River and diverting water from Wallaby Creek and Silver Creek.

The site of Yan Yean Reservoir is 183 metres in altitude, allowing sufficient hydraulic head for the water to be piped throughout the city under gravity. The dam is 963 metres long, and the reservoir has a capacity of 30 gigaliters, covering an area of 2,250 hectares. The region is home to various wildlife species.

Yan Yean Reservoir Park offers recreational facilities such as picnic areas, barbecue facilities, walking tracks, and scenic views of the reservoir and surrounding mountains. Birdwatchers appreciate the wetlands, which house a range of bird species.