Lake Argyle
Lake Argyle is a very large man-made lake in the Kimberley region of Australia. This giant freshwater inland sea some 800 square kilometres in area and is the largest body of fresh water in Australia and holds over 50 times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour. Formed by the Damming of the Ord River in 1972 Lake Argyle is rich in native flora and fauna and wildlife cruises of the lake depart every day from the LAKE ARGYLE TOURIST VILLAGE.
There are some 70 islands throughout the lake which were once the tops of high ranges these islands are now haven to a variety of native marsupials and reptiles.A commercial fishing industry has developed on the lake and it is estimated that the waters are home to over 25.000 Fresh water crocodiles. There is a long-range plan to pipe this abundant water supply to the more arid regions of the south.
The farmers who use the waters of Lake Argyle, grow maize, peanuts, sorghum and sunflowers. Cotton was tried, but was not successful. Also fruit is grown, especially melons that are exported to South East Asia.
Lake Argyle is Australia's largest artificial lake, part of the Ord River Scheme, near the East Kimberley (Western Australia) town of Kununurra formed specifically for the project in 1963, is located on the Kimberley Plateau. The main channel of the Ord River (dark, meandering feature) north of the lake is visible as it drains northward, eventually emptying into the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. The Ord and Bow Rivers that flow into the southern end of the lake are difficult to discern. Low, folded mountains can be identified east and west of this river valley.
The earth-fill only dam wall at Lake Argyle is the most efficient dam in Australia in the ratio of the size of the dam wall to the amount of water stored.
Lake Argyle Village
The Lake Argyle Village is now nothing more than a largely disused construction camp, a hotel-motel, a camping site and a few houses on the edge of one of the most beautiful dams in Australia. The fact that the dam is also Australia's largest with an area of 741 sq. km seems irrelevant when compared to the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Located 70 km from Kunnunurra and 1127 km from Broome, Lake Argyle is only a few kilometres west of the Northern Territory border.
The area was first settled by Patrick (Patsy) Durack in 1882. Durack (1834-1898) was born in County Clare, Ireland, emigrated to New South Wales in 1853, made his fortune on the Ovens River diggings in Victoria and in 1868 established a property on a tributary of Coopers Creek in western Queensland. He was endlessly energetic and quickly established himself as one of the richest and most successful cattle owners in the area. In the early 1880s, after hearing good reports of the Kimberley country, he sent his brother Michael to inspect land on the Ord River. Michael's report was favourable and Durack organised the droving of 7250 breeding cattle and 200 horses to the region. The 3000 mile and three year long trek of cattle from Queensland to stock the Argyle and Ivanhoe stations was, at the time, the longest ever attempted in Australia.
Things To See - Argyle Downs Station
A short distance outside the town is the reconstructed Argyle Downs Station Homestead which Patrick Durack built in 1894. It is uncharacteristic of many of the far north's buildings. Its stone construction suggests that Durack was building for a lifetime. It was more common to build a temporary shelter rather than something that was so unambiguously permanent. In fairness when Durack built this house his wife had recently died and his financial interests in Queensland had collapsed. He was really building for retirement. Two years later he visited Ireland and in 1898 he died in Fremantle.
The original location of the house now lies beneath the waters of Lake Argyle. The building was removed stone by stone from the original site and carefully reconstructed. It was officially opened in 1979.
The house is deceptively small with only four rooms on display. The front two rooms have pieces of Durack history including the books written by Mary Durack and illustrated by her sister Elizabeth. These include rare copies of The Way of the Whirlwind and Piccaninies as well as the more famous Kings in Grass Castles by Mary Durack.
The other two rooms are devoted to Aboriginal artifacts from the area and the equipment used by the local stockmen.
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