Greeting Fellow Foxies,
In March 2017 Adventuregal Seon and Daddybones Doug decided to test designer wear bush gear in an expedition to the old Wickepin town dam. To get to the dam, drive about 4km south of Wickepin, turn right on to Brooks Road then right at the gravel pit that has been converted to a roaded catchment (see old dam sign). Go down an unformed track at the right (east) of the catchment that leads down to the dam.
I could find little information about the dam, but it would have been constructed early last century to supply water to steam trains, and possibly as a water supply for Wickepin. Until recently it has filled rarely.
This spot is mainly of historical interest as wildflower areas are pretty weedy, but is worth a visit for a picnic and a ramble.
In March 2017 Adventuregal Seon and Daddybones Doug decided to test designer wear bush gear in an expedition to the old Wickepin town dam. To get to the dam, drive about 4km south of Wickepin, turn right on to Brooks Road then right at the gravel pit that has been converted to a roaded catchment (see old dam sign). Go down an unformed track at the right (east) of the catchment that leads down to the dam.
I could find little information about the dam, but it would have been constructed early last century to supply water to steam trains, and possibly as a water supply for Wickepin. Until recently it has filled rarely.
This spot is mainly of historical interest as wildflower areas are pretty weedy, but is worth a visit for a picnic and a ramble.
Red line with blue arrows show catchment banks
The dam was dry on our visit, but completely filled within a fortnight and I suspect will become a good yabbie spot for the locals for quite a while.
 Empty dam |  Dam full |
The catchment for the dam is quite impressive as there is a long and winding bank with carefully fashioned and placed lines of granite slabs that catch water from the granite outcrops on the adjoining ridge.
Granite slab wall
Some people spent a lot of time doing this! The inlet to the dam is also carefully lined by rocks, apparently by World War Two Italian prisoners of war.
Some abandoned cars and cubbies attest to an interest in the reserve by local youth.
Several tracks lead further into the reserve from the dam but they don’t lead to any road
Some abandoned cars and cubbies attest to an interest in the reserve by local youth.
Several tracks lead further into the reserve from the dam but they don’t lead to any road
 stone-lined inlet channel |  old cubby |