Lostock Dam
Enjoy this peaceful small lake in the Hunter
DAM LEVEL
100%
CAPACITY
20GL
SIZE OF LAKE
2 KM2
Lostock Dam is a popular inland sport and recreation destination north-west of Maitland, offering year-round attractions for water sports and fishing enthusiasts, nature lovers, bushwalkers, campers and picnickers. Lostock Dam supplies water for irrigation, environmental flows, stock, industry and household needs in the Paterson Valley.
Look out points
Dam wall
Walk or drive across the dam wall for views of the lake and rolling countryside. The wall is 38 metres high and 701 metres long.
Lake foreshores
The foreshores provide many vantage points with panoramic views of the lake and Mount Royal Range.
HOURS
- Open 24 hours
TOP SAFETY TIPS
- Wear a life jacket
- Supervise your children
- Look out for underwater hazards
- Keep a safe distance when boating
- Follow all algae alerts
Learn more about safety at our sites.
REPORT A HAZARD OR INCIDENT
Please phone 1800 061 069
In an emergency call 000
We’re the people taking care of the state’s water at the source – capturing, storing, delivering. Learn more about WaterNSW.
Boat ramps
Camping
Children’s Playground
Picnic Shelters
Shower facilities
Toilets
Visitor centre
Things to do
Camp
Camping is available at Lostock caravan park with powered and unpowered sites on the banks of the Paterson River just downstream from the dam wall. Facilities include barbecues, picnic shelters, kiosk, showers and toilets. The lake foreshores are perfect for picnics, bushwalking and spotting local wildlife. Phone number is 02 4931 7118
Water sports
Water sports include sailing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming. A boat ramp is located near the dam wall. There is a speed limit to prevent water skiing and fast power boating on the relatively small lake.
Fishing
The lake is stocked with Australian bass. Catfish, eel and carp are also caught.
Map and directions
Lostock Dam is about 65 kilometres north of Singleton and about 65 kilometres north-west of Maitland in the NSW Hunter Valley. The dam is about 225 kilometres north-west of Sydney via the Pacific and New England highways and Gresford Road.
No model aircraft or drones
Facts and History
Lostock Dam is situated on the Paterson River, a major tributary of the Hunter River, about 65 kilometres north of Singleton and about 65 kilometres north-west of Maitland in the NSW Hunter Valley. The dam is about 225 kilometres north-west of Sydney.
Find out more
LOSTOCK DAM
Facts and History
Lostock Dam is situated on the Paterson River, a major tributary of the Hunter River, about 65 kilometres north of Singleton and about 65 kilometres north-west of Maitland in the NSW Hunter Valley. The dam is about 225 kilometres north-west of Sydney.
Lostock Dam has a capacity of 20,200 megalitres, making it one of the smaller NSW water storages.
The dam is named after the town of Lostock which lies about 2 kilometres downstream.
Why the dam was built
Lostock Dam was built in the early 1970s to provide a reliable supply of water for agriculture in the Paterson Valley following the drought of 1964-66.
Dairying, cattle grazing and vegetables are the main agricultural industries supported by irrigation. Lostock Dam also provides water for town supplies, industry, domestic and stock use along the Paterson River, as well as environmental flows.
The dam’s small 277 square kilometre catchment includes farming country in the upper reaches of the Paterson River, and areas of state forest and national park in the Mount Royal Range.
How the dam was built
Lostock Dam is a rock-fill embankment with a clay core. A concrete-lined flip bucket spillway is located just west of the dam wall. The wall is 701 metres long and 38 metres high.
To prevent water leaking through cracks in the rock foundation of the dam wall, holes up to 27 metres deep were drilled into the foundation and filled with a mixture of cement and water pumped in under pressure.
Construction began in 1969 and finished in 1971.
Later improvements
In 2010 mini hydro-electric power facilities were installed that generate on irrigation and environmental flows.
Hunter NSW dams
WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more