Lake Wivenhoe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Wivenhoe Queensland
Lake Wivenhoe Location in Queensland
Population	0 (2021 census)
• Density	0/km2 (0/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4311
Area	202.5 km2 (78.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Somerset Region
State electorate(s)	Nanango
Federal Division(s)	Blair

Lake Wivenhoe is a special place in Queensland, Australia. It's known for two things: a big artificial lake created by the Wivenhoe Dam, and the area around it. This area is mostly used for managing water. In 2021, very few people lived here, or none at all.

Exploring Lake Wivenhoe's Geography

This area includes the huge dam wall and all the equipment needed to manage the water. It also covers the large lake formed by the dam. Parts of the Brisbane River and Stanley River flow into the lake from the north. There's also a thin strip of land around the dam, the lake, and the rivers. The lake has a very wiggly shape, and so does the area around it. This whole area is dedicated to water management.

Because of its unusual shape, Lake Wivenhoe touches many other nearby areas. These include places like Wivenhoe Pocket, Coominya, Mount Beppo, and Somerset Dam.

The Brisbane Valley Highway runs through the southern part of the area. It crosses right over the top of the dam wall. There's also a small hill called Wash Pool Knoll on the lake's southwestern side. It stands about 84 meters (276 feet) above sea level.

When the lake was formed, it created many interesting features. These include points of land sticking out into the water (called headlands), narrow arms of water (inlets), wide curved areas of water (bays), and even some islands!

Points of Land: Headlands

Some of the headlands that reach into the lake include:

• Bauer Point
• Conroys Point
• Harris Point
• Lees Point
• Sinnamon Point

Watery Nooks: Inlets and Bays

You can find many inlets and bays around the lake, such as:

• Bellevue Bay
• Billies Bay
• Cormorant Bay
• Logan Inlet
• Moombra Bay
• Northbrook Inlet

Islands in the Lake

There is one main island right in the lake:

• Murrumba Island, which is about 38 hectares (94 acres) in size.

There are also two other islands in the Brisbane River before it flows into the lake:

• Marshall Island
• Stanley Island

A Look at Lake Wivenhoe's Past

The name Wivenhoe comes from a large farm that was started around 1845 by Edmund Blucher Uhr. He named it after a town called Wivenhoe in Essex, England.

The historic Caboonbah Homestead was once located near the lake. It was a popular place for tourists and was managed by the Brisbane Valley Historical Society. Sadly, the homestead burned down in 2009.

Heritage Sites

Caboonbah homestead, 2009

Lake Wivenhoe has some important heritage-listed sites. These are places that are protected because of their historical value. One such site is the former Caboonbah Homestead on Esk-Kilcoy Road.

Getting Around Lake Wivenhoe

There are three main roads in the area. The Brisbane Valley Highway comes from the south and then runs along the western side of the lake towards Esk. Another road, Wivenhoe Somerset Road, splits off from the highway at the south of the lake. It travels along the eastern side of the dam towards Somerset Dam. Because the lake's boundaries are so irregular, both roads weave in and out of the Lake Wivenhoe area and the nearby localities. Northbank Parkway comes from Mount Glorious to the east and ends on the east side of the lake at Wivenhoe Somerset Road.

You can also find the Northbrook Parkway heliport where Wivenhoe Somerset Road and Northbank Parkway meet.

Fun Activities at Lake Wivenhoe

Even though not many people live here, Lake Wivenhoe is a great spot for outdoor fun! You can go camping, have picnics, swim, fish, and enjoy various water sports.

To fish in the dam, you'll need a special permit. Swimming is allowed, and there are places set up for camping. You can also use electric or non-powered boats if you have a permit, but remember that pets are not allowed.

Fun on the West Side of the Lake

• Cormorant Bay Recreation Area: This spot has picnic and barbecue areas, plus a playground for kids. It's perfect for walking and fishing. You can find it off the Brisbane Valley Highway.
• Wivenhoe Dam Spillway Lookout: Here, you can get an amazing view of the dam's spillway. It also has picnic and barbecue facilities and is off the Brisbane Valley Highway.
• Lake Wivenhoe Information Centre: This center provides helpful information about the dam and the lake. It's located off the Brisbane Valley Highway.
• Wivenhoe Hill Trails: These trails are great for walking, cycling, and horse riding. They are off Fig Tree Road.
• Logan Complex: This area has three parts: a day-use area for picnics, and two camping grounds called Captain Logan camp ground and Lumley Hill camp ground. It offers picnic and barbecue facilities, a playground, and is good for swimming, fishing, canoeing, and water sports. It's on Logan Inlet Road and has a boat ramp.
• Hamon Cove Recreation Area: This area has picnic and barbecue facilities. It's suitable for fishing, canoeing, and water sports. You'll find it on the western side of the lake off the Brisbane Valley Highway, and it also has a boat ramp.

Fun on the East Side of the Lake

• Billies Bay Recreation Area: This spot has picnic and barbecue facilities. It's great for swimming, fishing, canoeing, and water sports. It's off Bryden Road and includes a boat ramp.
• Hays Landing Recreation Area: Here, you'll find picnic and barbecue facilities. It's good for fishing, canoeing, and water sports. It's off Bryden Road and has a boat ramp.

Fun on the North Side of the Lake

• O'Shea's Crossing Rest Area: This area has picnic and barbecue facilities. It's a good place for fishing and canoeing. You can find it at the corner of Esk Kilcoy Road and Cooeeimbardi Road.