Authorities say a dam in northeast Victoria is set to spill for the first time in 26 years.
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Locals and visitors have been wagering for weeks on when the Dartmouth Dam would overflow, but the catchment authority says it will happen on Thursday.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority senior river management director Joe Davis said the basin's largest water storage was expected to overflow from heavy rains last weekend.
Mr Davis said excitement had been building in the community for some time, with the dam hovering near 99 per cent of capacity for several weeks.
"There has been plenty of local banter about the possibility of the spill, and I know people have been taking bets on when it might happen," he said.
Dartmouth publican Aaron Scales said tourists had travelled hundreds of kilometres for a glimpse of the dam in the hope of catching the spill.
"The whole town sort of vibrant with people around ... they're all coming up in anticipation that it might be the day it goes over," Mr Scales told AAP.
He said the influx had been great for business at the tourist destination, which had a headcount of 130 people at last year's census and was often quiet during colder months.
"Business is booming," Mr Scales said.
"The little shop here, the pub, the cafe and the takeaway food that they're doing over from the CFA shed is all going really, really well."
The publican even produced a commemorative stubbie holder to mark the occasion, featuring a photo of the dam's most recent spill in 1996.
Dartmouth Dam has overflowed in four years since its completion in 1979.
"Everyone's just excited about it," said Mr Scales, who told AAP he had overheard the odd wager being laid on when the spill might occur.
"I don't know if any money has changed hands."
Australian Associated Press
