It was constructed by contractor Andrew O'Keefe (engineer) (died 1904) in conjunction with Joshua Thomas Noble Anderson.

[1] The largest outlet valves in Victoria, manufactured by the United Iron Work of Abraham Roberts, were installed at the weir in 1891.

[2] The great flood of 1909 breached the weir, sending 18.3 million cubic metres of water through the opening and causing severe damage to all towns downstream.

The famous World War I general, Sir John Monash, designed and built a new bridge of reinforced concrete beam and slab construction, which still remains today.

The towns of Tarnagulla, Dunolly, and Laanecoorie obtain supply by diversion from the Loddon River downstream of the reservoir.