Lifestyle Property Dams — Build the Dam of Your Dreams
You’ve found the land. Now make it everything you imagined. A beautifully designed farm dam transforms any acreage into a destination — a place to swim, fish, kayak, water stock, and watch wildlife gather at dusk. Big Ditch builds lifestyle property dams for people who want theirs done properly: engineered for longevity, designed to look like it belongs, and backed by a fixed-price contract with a 10-year guarantee.
Why Treechangers Choose Big Ditch
Most dam builders build for farmers. We build for people who care about both function and beauty. Our clients include Airbnb hosts creating waterfront retreats, olive and wine estates, corporate getaway properties, and families building the rural lifestyle they’ve been planning for years. Every dam we design is site-specific — shaped by your land’s topography, catchment area, and the vision you have for how the property should feel.
What Does a Lifestyle Dam Cost?
We publish our pricing because we believe in transparency. A new farm dam starts from $10,000 per megalitre for a 1–4 megalitre dam, with volume pricing for larger projects. The process begins with a $500+GST site inspection where we assess your site, review geology, and give you a realistic picture of what’s achievable before you spend a dollar on construction.
- Site inspection: $500 + GST
- Dam design: $2,750 + GST
- Construction from: $10,000 per megalitre (1–4 ML)
- Volume pricing available for 4+ megalitres
- Fixed price. 10-year guarantee. No surprises.
The Process — From Paddock to Lake
- Site Inspection — We visit your property, assess the catchment, geology, and best dam location. $500+GST.
- Dam Design — Full hydrological design tailored to your land and water needs. $2,750+GST.
- Fixed-Price Quote — You receive a complete construction quote with no hidden costs.
- Construction — Our crew builds your dam to engineering specification using the right compaction and materials for your site.
- 10-Year Guarantee — We stand behind every dam we build.
Our Lifestyle Dam Projects
Our portfolio includes dams built for Airbnb retreats, Robert Oatley Olive Estates in Gulgong NSW, Australian Unity’s Sienna Grange corporate retreat, and dozens of private acreage properties across NSW and Queensland. Browse our projects gallery to see what’s possible on your land.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need council approval for a dam on my lifestyle property?
In most Australian states, small farm dams on rural properties are permissible development, but dams capturing above your harvestable rights may require a water access licence. Big Ditch advises on all regulatory requirements as part of our site inspection and design service.
How long does it take to build a lifestyle dam?
From site inspection to completed construction, most lifestyle dams take 6–16 weeks depending on size, site access, and seasonal conditions. We’ll give you a realistic timeline in your fixed-price quote.
Can my dam be designed to swim in?
Absolutely. We design dams with gently shelving entries, clean catchment zones, and aesthetic earthworks that make them ideal for swimming. Healthy, swimmable dams are one of our specialties.
What size dam do I need for my acreage?
A general rule is 1 megalitre (1 million litres) per 10–20 hectares of catchment area, but the right size depends on your intended use, rainfall, and geology. Our $500 site inspection will tell you exactly what’s realistic for your land.