Merrimu Reservoir, located west of Melbourne near Bacchus Marsh, is a quiet recreational area offering picnic facilities.
The reservoir provides drinking water to local towns and irrigation water to the Werribee Irrigation District. Water levels can vary throughout the year.
Hours of operation
The Merrimu recreational area is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm daily.
Facilities and what to do
Merrimu Reservoir is a great place for a picnic.
Facilities at the recreation area include:
Not permitted
While visiting our facilities you are not permitted to:
- camp or stay overnight
- have fires or fire pits
- leave rubbish - all our sites are carry in carry out zones
- reserve any picnic areas
- drive or ride motorbikes along the shoreline or in fenced areas
- enter prohibited areas
- vandalise the facilities
- hunt, carry or discharge a firearm
- ride or walk horses anywhere, including in the water.
- use the park or picnic areas outside of opening hours
- undertake any dangerous activities including
abseiling, paraflying, shooting and archery.
Please not that visitors are not permitted on the land surrounding reservoir. For more information see Merrimu Reservoir prohibited areas
On the water
Merrimu Reservoir is a closed catchment and reservoir. All water activities are prohibited.
Fires prohibited
As part of its commitment to adopting the best environmental practices, SRW prohibits fires at all of its recreational areas at all times.
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Merrimu Reservoir visitors guide
Southern Rural Water (SRW) needs to manage our dams and catchments carefully to maintain a high quality supply of water. We encourage all visitors to work with us to minimise any impact to Merrimu Reservoir and its surrounds, and to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time here.
In the park and picnic areas:
Do:- use the park and picnic areas only between 8.30am to 4.30 pm
- consider others and keep noise to a minimum
- keep the picnic areas and BBQs clean
- take your rubbish home
- use the toilet facilities provided
- keep within the speed limits
- obey all signs and notices
- keep dogs on leads
- protect all native animals and plants
- comply with the directions of SRW officers & security personnel
Request to hold events
From time to time, people wish to hold events at our recreational facilities including festivals, birthday parties and weddings. We cannot close our recreational facilities for private events and you cannot book sites.
You must have permission to hold any organised entertainment, rally, boating event or regatta, festival, public meeting, training class or demonstration, wedding or similar ceremony, or private functions for 30 or more people.
Please email us with your request in writing.
Location
Merrimu Reservoir is located on Pyrites Creek, a tributary of the Werribee River, 10kms north-east of Bacchus Marsh and approximately 50kms from Melbourne – VicRoads Reference Map 328 J6