Yan Yean Reservoir

The Yan Yean Reservoir is a reservoir in the south of the Australian state of Victoria in the course of Plenty River. It is located about 30 km north of the city of Melbourne and is the oldest reservoir for drinking water supply of the city. A 9.5 m high embankments holds about 30 million cubic meters of water in check. Work on this dam began in 1853 at the height of the gold rush lasted for 4 years and devoured a sum of £ 750,000 -.

The dam is operated by Melbourne Water as part of the water supply of Melbourne.

When the lake was built, it was the largest artificial lake in the world.

The dam was designed by James Blackburn, a British civil engineer and former London health inspector, who had been brought as a prisoner to Tasmania because you accused him of embezzlement. After his parole in 1849 he came to Melbourne.