Lake Dunbar - the failed dam of King

Abstract

When looking at the demure Dunbar Lake, located 5 km outside King William’s Town on the Buffalo River, one can hardly believe that it was once meant to be the main water supply to the Eastern Cape town. What started as a mission station later became a military settlement, with the first town council appointed in 1861. Mission founder, John Brownlee, was the first to cut a furrow (about 2 miles in length) from the river to supply the mission station with water. When the military moved in they took over the furrow. Despite the proximity of the Buffalo River, water supply to the young King William’s Town was often Lake Dunbar – The failed dam of King erratic. With the appointment of Borough Engineer, William Dunbar, in 1881 it was hoped the situation would change. Dunbar was enthusiastic that he could not only improve the town’s water supply, but improve its economic situation as well. He envisaged a series of locks on the Buffalo River so that boats could sail up to the forests and timber could be ‘floated downstream’ .

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