Dunns Swamp

Wollemi National Park

Dunns Swamp was formed by the water trapped by the Kandos weir wall across the Cudgegong River

This produced an idyllic spot for picnics, fishing ( slipperies catfish golden perch) and was later used by sailing boats canoes and speed boats trailing water skiers

Sometime in the eighties N.S.W. National Parks & Wildlife took over the area which had always been a flora and fauna reservation. They restricted speed to 8k on the waterway and did a lot of work landscaping the back water area and inproving facilities. fencing,

Camping, swimming, bushwalking fishing and boating are still popular activities

Today over 20000 people visit the area each year and enjoy the spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and birds.

Location

On the Cudgegong River

30 kms east of Rylstone and Kandos in the Wollemi National Park

History

Kandos Cement required a reserve of water for the cement works The construction of the weir which began in 1929 is a example of bush ingenuity typical of the times

Albert Sofala Mannell who had done an ICS correspondence course in cement engineering and Maths won tender to build weir with Engineer at Cement Works

	He had 11 workmen and 1 engine
	Explosives, steel and cement powder for construction transported by solid tyred truck from Kandos
	Timber for form work was milled on site by Mr Harry Franks after he brought in logs from nearby bush with horses
	To make the cement they used

1 jack hammer (used to drill holes in rocks for explosive charges to blow rocks) which were then transported in

ordinary wheelbarrows to transport the blown rock to the crusher

Crusher (rocks crushed to sand and conglomerate rocks used for aggregate in concrete.)

water from river and

cement powder from Kandos

Cement mixer

old quarry site

	The newly mixed concrete was
	poured into trolley trucks sent out on tracks on scaffolding
	then poured down corrugated iron sluices to the wall site
	trammelled by hand where it was needed in the wall

The weir was completed approx three years later in 1931

Water was piped 25k to Kandos to cool kilns and produce electricity from steam turbines

Facilities

	campsites
	toilets
	pathways
	walking tracks
	canoes and a boat for hire

A more detailed list is given on the Wollemi NP page

Accommodation

Outside the National Park there is a variety of accommodation available

Close to Dunns Swamp

	Farmstays
	Self Contained Cottages
	Private camp site
	A hall with electricity, a kitchen and toilets

In and around Kandos/Rylstone are

	B & B's
	Self Contained Cottages
	Hotels
	Motels

12/4/2009 - 30/6/2012