Wyaralong Dam

Wyaralong Dam is an ungated dam on the Teviot Brook at the base of Mt Joyce, west of Beaudesert. The dam was intended for potable water use.

The dam was constructed in 2010, and began filling in December just in time for the floods bringing it to capacity in January 2011, even though the dam was not completely finished.

The Teviot Brook flows from the ranges falling down at Teviot Falls . Water doesn’t enter the water grid at the dam. Instead, water flows downstream along Teviot Brook, then into Logan River to Cedar Grove Weir where it is diverted for treatment and use in the piped network.

There used to be camping at Wyaralong Dam for walk-in tent campsites. These have been removed, the only camping at the dam now at Ngumbi Remote Camping Area along the Shoreline Trail, a 25km walking, horse, and mountain bike trail.

Wyaralong Dam is the eastern trail access for the Shoreline Trail, passing along the base of Mt Joyce, or over Mt Joyce for walkers only. The Western Headtrail is at Lilybrook Recreation Area where Teviot Brook feeds into Lake Wyaralong.

In addition to the Shoreline Trail, there are lots of mountain bike (MTB) trails with the Mount Joyce Mountain Bike Trails, rated easy, intermediate, and advanced. The MTB trails are accessed from the other side of the dam wall from the rest of the dam’s facilities, with plenty of parking and toilets. There are no picnic tables or other facilities here, although there are picnic tables within the MTB trails area.

The Meebun day use area is just south of the wall with two areas with parking. The first area surrounds a sculpture art section. The side road has multiple picnic tables, BBQs, and toilets, and grass area down to the water. A children’s playground offers entertainment for the kids, and at the start of the side road is a boat ramp to launch paddle craft and electric boats.

The sculpture art section has a short walking pathway leading through the various art pieces. They were installed as part of the Wyaralong Sculpture Festival and Symposium in 2015. The artworks and their sculptors were selected from concepts, to reflect the recreational and environmental values at Wyaralong Dam and Mt Joyce Recreation Park.

Along the sculpture walk there are information signs about the history of the Wyaralong area and the Teviot Brook Valley. There is also a small mountain bike track for kids, although it doesn’t look like it is used too often. At the top of the walk is a small open area with blocks pointing the direction and distance of various landmarks around the dam, such as Boonah, Mt Joyce, Lilybrook, Mt Barney, Brisbane, and Beaudesert.

At the second parking area, there isn’t as much there. Almost like there was meant to be but the facilities were never completed. There is a viewing platform at the far end to view the top of the dam wall.

Fishing is permitted at the dam. There were a few fishing from a kayak on the day I visited, but most seemed to find a spot to launch from before reaching the day use area. The dam is a stocked impoundment, meaning you need to have a SIPS permit to fish.

The best look at the dam wall is from the MTB trail parking area. You can walk up along the start of the Shoreline Trail to get a variety of views of the wall, in front and behind. Like most dams and weirs, the wall itself is blocked from public access, so you can only view from a short distance away.

To get there:

Cost: Free, SIPS permit required for fishing

Hours: Sep-Apr 5.30am-6.30pm, May-Aug 6am-5.30pm

Toilets: Yes

Bins: Yes

Tables: Yes

Seating: Yes

Water: Yes

Food: No

Wheelchair accessible: Yes, with assistance as most spots are not directly accessible from the road

Pets: No

BBQ: Yes

Playground: Yes