Yornaning Dam

Yornaning Dam is a scenic ecotourism and recreational reserve located in Western Australia's Wheatbelt, roughly 20 km north of Narrogin along the Great Southern Highway. The Yornaning Dam was built in 1896 to provide water for steam trains on the Great Southern railway going from Perth to Albany. The dam was originally supplied by the Hotham River South Branch (or Cuballing Brook), but this proved inadequate for the railway needs and in 1909 poor water quality in the river turned the dam water salty. The dam became irrelevant in 1954 with the introduction of diesel-powered trains and the Wellington Dam piping water to the area. 

About Yornaning Dam

In 1993 the Cuballing Shire obtained vesting of this area and has upgraded the dam for recreational swimming and general relaxation. New facilities include a toilet, children’s’ play equipment, barbecues and picnic tables set in a scenic setting. It was not until 2017 that the Shire of Cuballing re-established the rehabilitation project with funding from State Natural Resource Management and Lotterywest, and the area was restored. There is a 1.5 km nature walk trail circling the water playground, a perfect spot to see bird life and the spectacular wildflowers in late winter to spring.

The Yornaning Dam has free camping available for a maximum of 72 Hours (3 days). The site does have toilet facilities that are accessible 24/7, but there are no shower facilities or RV dump point. 

The Shire also encourages safety when creating campfires or the use of gas BBQ's. You should check the Shire of Cuballings website to see if you are allowed to start a campfire by going to Burning Season and Burning Permits. 

Trails at Yornaning Dam 

The reserve offers excellent opportunities for easy walking and cycling. A gentle 1.2 km circuit winds through attractive woodland surrounding the waterway and loops around the dam. On the northern side, a 500-metre trail passes through orchid-rich rock sheoak bushland, while a 2.8 km fire access road along the southern boundary provides walkers and cyclists with the chance to enjoy a variety of wildflowers and native bushland. There is also a mountain bike trail that sits opposite to the entrance of the reserve. Yornaning Dam Walking Trails  Yornaning Dam Cycling Trails  Walking or cycling along these trails are a great opportunity to see native flora and fauna. In the months of August to October, it is common to spot wildflower species such as: Yellow Custard Orchids Cowslip Orchids Pink Fairies Fringed Lillies Blue China Orchids Fringed mantis Orchid Primrose Spider Orchid

Along with native flowers, there also a range of native birds that can be found at the Yornaning dam. Species such as the Chestnut Tea, Hoary-headed Grebe, Eurasian Coot, Black Swan and Yellow-billed Spoonbill can found at or near the Dam. Birdwatchers can also enjoy the surrounding shrubland and woodland, where native species such as the striking Splendid Wren and the charismatic Rufous Treecreeper are often found. Other animals such as small mammals and reptiles can also be found in the area.