Kylie Dam Reserve Conservation Appeal

A tax-deductible appeal has been established to raise funds for the rehabilitation of Kylie Dam Reserve. If you would like to contribute to the conservation of this important heritage site, please download the donation form or contact the National Trust on (08) 9321 6088.

Kylie Dam Reserve is a 220-hectare property in the Shire of West Arthur, which exhibits a unique combination of built, natural and cultural heritage values. The National Trust is working in partnership with the Shire and local community to restore the reserve to conservation status and secure its ongoing protection and management. 

The reserve contains a dam, a 3 km caste-iron pipeline and a railway water supply tank, which are over 90 years old and remain in very good condition. The property also has significant natural heritage values, with a good representation of upland native vegetation; however, grazing of the north and eastern portion of the property has degraded the natural values of the site.

The history of the reserve is closely linked to that of the local community, which has been extremely supportive of the conservation project. The dam, when restored, will play an important role within the community, as a tourism cultural facility. It will also be used to supply local farmers with water for fire-fighting, or use in times of severe drought.

In recognition of the reserve’s heritage value and management needs, the Shire of West Arthur has agreed to transfer the site to the National Trust, who will coordinate the rehabilitation project. A conservation plan will be developed to inform the restoration works, which will include maintenance of the built heritage and revegetation of the degraded bushland. Due to the property’s location high in the landscape, rehabilitation of the land will lessen the impact of salinity across the catchment.

The project aims to restore Kylie Reserve to conservation status, protecting both natural and built heritage values and engendering community participation and support. The rehabilitation of this property is part of a long-term project, which will eventually see it transferred to the Department of Environment and Conservation for inclusion in the national reserve system.