Settlement Profile
Lake Glenmaggie is a man-made weir in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in Gippsland, at the junction of the Macalister River and Glenmaggie Creek, in the Wellington Shire. There are two main residential areas, one at Glenmaggie, North-West end of the Lake with approximately 175 dwellings and Coongulla, approximately 256 dwellings, to the East via Weir Road then Ryans Road which pass the Dam wall. Glenmaggie and Coongulla are approximately 20km by road between towns.
There are three caravan parks with on-site vans and facilities for visiting caravans and campers situated on the Western shore of the lake on Licola Road. Additionally Blores Hill Caravan Park is located south of the lake along Weir Road. There are no shops located in the townships of Glenmaggie, Coongulla and Sandy Point, however a variety of stores and services are located at Heyfield and Maffra (approximately 20kms of the lake).
Lake Glenmaggie when full holds approximately 177,000 megalitres. It's primary purpose is to supply water via irrigation channels to the many dairy and produce farmers in the Macalister Irrigation District. The water level of the dam can fall to approximately 25% around the month of April but this is hard to predict dependant on the usage by farmers, rainfall, evaporation and losses in the system. The dam rises again after winter rainfall and the annual snow melts.
The lake is used for town water supply for Coongulla and Glenmaggie. Sandy Points water is sourced from a nearby bore (groundwater - Munjara School Camp). The lake is also an important recreational resource for boating, fishing and swimming. The Glenmaggie and District Boat Club stages regular boat races attracting large crowds each year. The main event is held early January.
Coongulla Recreational Reserve boasts a large public hall that hosts Paddys Market which has been run since 2 April 1988. Also the hall is used for weddings, dinner dances, parties and a whole range of functions. Glenmaggie Hall also known as the Mechanics Institute is also utilised for concerts, meetings, trash and treasure days. Both townships have very active CFA brigades who raise community preparedness with the intention of assisting communities to successfully cope with and emergency.
Sandy Point boasts a recreation area with bbq and picnic facilities supported by Macalister Valley Lions Club as well as a dual lane boat ramp. There are no schools located at Glenmaggie, Coongulla or Sandy Point townships; however children are taken by bus to various schools within the district (Heyfield, Sale, Maffra and Boisdale).