Trip Planner: South Pacific / Australia / Queensland / Mount Isa / Miscellaneous / Lake Moondarra

Lake Moondarra, Mount Isa

(60+ reviews on the web)

Outdoor Activity

Lake Moondarra is an artificial lake on the Leichhardt River in Queensland, Australia, 16 km downstream from the town of Mount Isa. It provides water to the city and the adjacent Mount Isa Mines (MIM) mining lease.Construction began on the Leichhardt Dam in 1956, and was completed on 6 November 1958 at a cost of £1.7 million. The dam was built for Mount Isa Mines and, at the time, was the largest water scheme in Australia financed by private enterprise. The original construction was started by the American Utah Construction Company, but Thiess Brothers completed the project.On 11 July 1961 the dam officially became Lake Moondarra after a competition to name the dam was won by a Mount Isa local, Danny Driscoll. The aboriginal name means "plenty of rain also thunder".The lake includes picnic areas, pontoons, a ski jump, and water sports facilities. The lake is popular with birdwatchers, sailors and anglers, as it is stocked with barramundi and sooty grunter. The Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic has been held there since 1999.

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Reviews

TripAdvisor

imcm2015

We drove to the lake and sat on the benches provided to have lunch. Was a lovely sunny day and such a pretty place well worth the visit. There is plenty of wildlife including lyrebirds and several fis... more »
Bomoh

Well worth the 20 minute trip from Mt Isa to see this artificial lake created by a dam which one can walk across. more »
Shirkas

Easy reach of Mount Isa and a real surprise. Nice picnic ground, lots of birdlife including friendly peacocks more »