Gold Creek Reservoir: Walk, History and How to Get There

Gold Creek Reservoir is a small, heritage-listed reservoir at Upper Brookfield in Brisbane’s west, with a 4.5 km walking track, a picnic area and a historic stepped spillway. Seqwater runs it as a day use area, open seven days a week.

It is a quiet place for a bush walk, a picnic or a ride on the fire trails rather than a swimming spot. The trails also lead on to Lake Manchester and Enoggera Reservoir.

The Gold Creek Reservoir walk

The designated walking track circles the reservoir and is 4.5 km long. Seqwater rates it moderately difficult: it passes through grassy forest of tall eucalypts, with dry rainforest plants in the sheltered gullies, and it is steep in some places.

The trails around the reservoir are shared. Seqwater says all users give way to horse riders, and mountain bike riders give way to walkers. Obey the signs on the trail.

Look out for platypus and native fish in the water. Seqwater also points out brown or plum pine trees, a rare tree, in the rainforest around the dam.

Trails to Lake Manchester and Enoggera Reservoir

The day use area is an entry point to a big trail network. From here you can walk or ride the multi-use trails to Lake Manchester and to Enoggera Reservoir, or carry on into the national park and Brisbane City Council trails. The Enoggera Reservoir end of that link is where you can swim, in the designated area.

For the national park beyond, see D’Aguilar National Park.

Picnics and facilities

Seqwater lists BBQs and picnics here, and its map marks picnic tables and a toilet at the day use area. Put your rubbish in the bins provided.

There is no swimming, boating, fishing or camping at Gold Creek. Seqwater says access to the water is not permitted.

The history of Gold Creek Reservoir

Gold Creek was built as Brisbane’s second water supply, to back up Enoggera Dam. Construction ran from 1882 to 1885, and it was handed to the Brisbane Board of Waterworks in 1886. Water flowed from here to Enoggera by pipeline until that link was decommissioned in 1991. Since then the dam has helped with flood mitigation and keeps water flowing in Gold Creek.

The spillway is the star. It is a staircase of 12 concrete steps, built in 1890 after floods damaged the original, and Seqwater describes it as the world’s first concrete stepped spillway. Brisbane City Council lists the reservoir as a local heritage place, noting the outlet tower, the oversized spillway steps and the meter house in their bush setting.

You can see historical artefacts dotted along the trail, and historic buildings near the dam.

Is Gold Creek Reservoir dog friendly?

No. Seqwater’s Gold Creek pages tell visitors to leave pets at home unless they are in an approved dog-on-leash area, and Gold Creek is not one. Dogs are allowed only at a short list of designated sites at other dams, and assistance animals are exempt.

Planning your visit

• How long: allow a good part of a morning for the 4.5 km loop, longer if you add a side trail.
• Opening hours: 5:30 am to 6:30 pm from September to April, 6 am to 5:30 pm from May to August.
• Cost: no entry fee is listed.
• What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and your own food.
• Accessibility: Seqwater publishes no accessibility details for the track, which is steep in places.
• Before you go: check Seqwater’s recreation and safety notices, or call Seqwater on 1300 737 928.

Getting there

Gold Creek Reservoir is at Upper Brookfield, on Gold Creek Road, about 22 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, which is about 35 minutes by car without traffic. Follow Gold Creek Road from Brookfield to the reservoir.

By public transport, Translink route 435 runs between the city and Brookfield, with stops on Gold Creek Road in Brookfield. The reservoir is further up the road, about 7 km from the Brookfield Village stop, so most people drive. Check times with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.

Official details are on Seqwater’s Gold Creek day use area page. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Enoggera Reservoir – the next reservoir along the trail network, with a designated swimming area.
• D’Aguilar National Park – the forest and ranges behind the reservoir.
• J C Slaughter Falls – a creekside picnic spot and walk on Mt Coot-tha.
• Hinze Dam – another Seqwater dam with a dam wall walk, on the Gold Coast.
• Leave No Trace Principles – the seven rules for bushwalking in SEQ.

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