Rocklands Dam, Victoria, Australia

Rocklands Dam sits across the upper reaches of the Glenelg River in Western Victoria. The dam was built in 1953, creating a 7,000 hectare expanse of fresh water with a perimeter of 400 km. Since then, water has been pumped from the reservoir to the farming communities to the north, for both stock and domestic purposes. Over the past five decades the reservoir itself has been a popular recreational destination for boaters, fishers, water skiers and campers. But sadly, that’s all changed in recent years. The worst drought in a century has seen the water level fall every year over the past decade until today the dam is "filled" to only 2% of its capacity. The surrounding countryside is parched and even some of the hardy local Australian Eucalypt trees look stressed.

My sister and brother in-law have been having their annual family holiday at Rocklands for many years and we joined them last week for what may be their final visit – the camping ground is closing soon, another victim of the drought. With fishing now poor, we spent the time walking and driving in the surrounding ruggedly-beautiful Black Ranges state park, and lighting the camp fire early each afternoon. We were well-stocked with food and wine, and with ample dry firewood all around, each night was an occasion to look forward to. Dusk also brought out the kangaroos and prolific bird life that still thrive around the dwindling dam waters. Just the time and place to listen to some Australian songs:

Galleries of pink galahs
Djarimirri
Tenterfield saddler
And the band played Waltzing Matilda

We returned to Adelaide via Mount Gambier where we picked up my father at The Oaks nursing home and took him on drives around the coast. We stopped for a couple of hours at the idyllic small town of Nelson on the Victoria / South Australia border where the Glenelg River flows into the ocean. The Glenelg is one of the most picturesque mid-sized rivers in Australia and the estuary section near the coast remains in pristine condition with high water levels and good stocks of wild black bream and mulloway. We look forward to returning here one day with a boat.