Barham is located in southwestern NSW, approximately 805 km south west of Sydney. The town is located on the Murray River and is protected from flooding by a levee system located along the river. The Council levee extends from west of Teddys Lane to the bridge crossing Eagle Creek cutting, east of Hudson Boulevarde.

The Council levee system is approximately 1,752 metres long and ranges in height from 0 to 3 metres. At the upstream end, the Council levee ties into the Eagle Creek cutting, the spoil from which provides a measure of levee protection. At the downstream end, the Council levee is connected to a private levee. Additional extensive private levees are located to the east of Barham, and these, together with the East Barham Road, also provide some level of flood protection. These private levees are constructed to an unknown standard.