The Ord River is a significant Australian waterway, supplying water to a hugely successful agricultural industry and supporting Ord River cruises and tours of this unique Kimberley environment.

The Diversion Dam is a historic marker in the evolution of agriculture and energy production in the remote north of Western Australia. The building and operation of the Diversion Dam, once the link to the Ord Top Dam was completed, produced a massive storage reservoir, Lake Kununurra, and enabled hydro-electricity to be introduced to Kununurra, Wyndham and the Argyle Diamond Mine.

Built in the early 1970’s, the Ord Top Dam formed the massive Lake Argyle and stores water year-round to generate hydro-electricity and supply irrigation to sustain agriculture in dry periods. The dam wall soars high enough to capture large volumes of floodwaters in very wet seasons.

Boating the Ord River is an experience not to be missed. From the dam the river gets progressively more beautiful and moves inland. On display are birds, fish, crocodiles and wallabies – you might even see an eagle. Your Triple J guides are experts at spotting wildlife and the afternoon tea set up on the riverbank is a popular option.

The magnificent homestead was originally built in 1895 by the Durack family on Argyle Downs Station (now mostly submerged by the lake). The famous pioneering Durack family home became known far and wide as one of the social gathering places of the East Kimberley.

Constructed of handcrafted limestone blocks with crushed termites mounds used as mortar, it was a magnificent building for its time.

During the early 1970’s a decision was made to remove the homestead before Lake Argyle began to fill in order to preserve this magnificent building for all time.
The homestead was dismantled stone by stone with every stone coded in such a way so as to be able to be rebuilt with every stone back in its original position.
The homestead now lives on as a museum dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the Durack Family.