During the construction of the dam and in the time during which it filled, there was a settlement known as 'Barren Jack City' facing the river at the base of the Burrinjuck mountain.

[5][6] Burrinjuck includes part of one of the proposed sites for Australia's national capital, which was known as Mahkoolma.

The capital was to be located in the upper reaches of nearby Carrolls Creek,[7][1] Barren Jack Post Office opened on 23 May 1907, was renamed Burrinjuck in 1911, and closed in 1979.

[8] Burrinjuck has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Located on the exposed western slopes of the Brindabella Range, rainfall peaks distinctly in winter.

While snow is a rare occurrence at the bottom of the valley, it does occur annually on the surrounding ranges and hilly country above 700 metres (such as at Wee Jasper); nearby Black Andrew Mountain (935 metres) and Mount Barren Jack (972 metres) overlooking the lake, can be periodically snow-capped during the winter months.