Gowrie Park is located at the foothills of Mt Roland. The town was originally established to accommodate the construction workers and their families in 1963, following the government approval of the Forth/Mersey Power Scheme.

A permanent camp was established in October, with houses moved onto the proposed village site the following year. A school was opened in May 1964, and by the end of the year 70 families were residing at Gowrie Park. Soon a general store and a sports oval were established to facilitate the growing population in the town.

By 1966 the town had developed all the social activities of a normal community. A scheme to create permanent housing in Sheffield was delayed due to complex land acquisition. 124 extra houses were built the following year to accommodate the increased labour force that arrived in the town, and the Community Hall was finally finished in 1968.

Gowrie Park was the site of a Vice Regal visit in 1969. In 1970, floods delayed construction work, and as a direct result the labour requirements were reduced. Despite this setback, the majority of work on the scheme was finished that same year, and the population began to decline rapidly.

The station was officially opened in March 1973, and the transferral of the population to Sheffield began. The single mens' camp was closed, and the village ceased to function by the end of the year. The headquarters of the Scheme were moved to Sheffield in the same year.

Today Gowrie Park houses the Mersey/Forth power scheme Power Branch offices, and the original housing now acts as dormitory accommodation for visitors to the area.


Step back in time and visit the Black Stump's Pioneer settlement - enjoy the historic site and have a meal in the licensed restaurant, or browse through the selection of bushcrafts on display. A walking trail to Mt Roland takes 8 hours (return trip), and walkers can admire the native flora and fauna enroute to the imposing mountain.

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