Canning Dam

Canning Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Canning River in Roleystone, within the City of Armadale, about 35 kilometres southeast of Perth, Western Australia. Completed in 1940, it was Perth's major water supply dam and remains part of the Integrated Water Supply Scheme. Set in jarrah forest within the Darling Range, the dam features a reservoir, wall lookout, picnic area and heritage-listed infrastructure, offering views of the water and surrounding bushland.

Visitors can expect a forested reservoir setting in the Darling Range with a large concrete dam wall, lookout platform over the reservoir and valley, and a landscaped picnic area below the wall. The site includes interpretive signage about water supply history, sealed and unsealed walking paths, barbecues and lawn areas surrounded by jarrah and marri forest. No water contact activities are permitted as it is a drinking water source; the experience is focused on sightseeing, photography, picnicking and short bushwalks.

Constructed between 1938 and 1940 to address Perth's growing water demand, Canning Dam was the city's primary water source upon completion and was built as a concrete gravity dam on the Canning River. It was designed by the Public Works Department and represents inter-war water supply engineering. The dam and associated infrastructure are listed on the Western Australian Heritage Register for their technical and historical importance to the state's water supply development.

The dam is significant as part of Western Australia's Integrated Water Supply Scheme and as a recreational and educational site illustrating the history of water management in Perth. It is located in Noongar Country and is interpreted through signage focusing on engineering heritage and natural environment values.