The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-electric power, irrigation, water supply and conservation.

The dam is located approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the town of Scone on the upper reaches of the river.

The dam has an additional reserve capacity of 120,000 megalitres (4,200×10^6 cu ft) to hold floodwaters that reduce flooding downstream.

The two dams supply water requirements along 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the Hunter River from Glenbawn to the tidal reaches near Maitland.

[5] A hydro-electric power station generates up to 5.5 megawatts (7,400 hp) of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Glenbawn Dam with an average output of 4.4 gigawatt-hours (16 TJ) per annum.