Beginnings

In 1909 the State Government granted a concession to a private company to use the water from the Great Lake to produce electricity.

Work began in December 1910 with the excavation of a canal which was to take water from the Great Lake to the storage area, known as Penstock Lagoon.

Considerable difficulties were met at an early stage, and the very severe winter of 1912 and a shortage of money halted construction for several months.

In 1914 the private company failed to raise the extra money needed to complete the scheme, and approached the State Government for financial assistance.

An electrical engineer from New Zealand was called in to advise the State Government. He strongly recommended that the State acquire the Hydro-Electric assets of the company, and these were purchased later in the year.

A new Government Department - the Hydro-Electric Department - was established to complete the scheme and operate it.

Construction

One of the biggest difficulties facing the early construction workers was the isolation of the area and the problem of transporting materials.

There was no road to link the power station site at Waddamana. Early in 1911 work began on building a 27 kilometre wooden tramway from Red Gate, near Bothwell, to Waddamana.

The 'rails' were made using 9 inch (225 millimetre) square hardwood, and bridges were constructed over a number of creeks and the Shannon River.

The tramway was completed in early 1912, and a regular service of a return trip every two hours began.

Teams of up to 15 draught horses pulled each load; the average load being about 7 tons. A road was completed in 1922, and the tramway fell into disrepair.

Advertisements for labour made it quite clear that applicants should make their own way to the construction site which was described as a 'comfortable two day walk from Deloraine.'

Rates of pay were 8 shillings (80 cents) a day, and a tent and sack of straw to lay on were provided.

Opening

The Great Lake Power Scheme was officially opened by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Ronald Crauford Monro-Ferguson in May 1916.

The official party travelled by train to Oatlands and by car to Interlaken. The following day the party mounted horses and rode to Miena at the southern end of the Great Lake, where the sluice gates were opened and water was released from the lake.

The party continued to Penstock Lagoon and then on to Waddamana, the site of the power station. On 6 May the Governor-General performed the major ceremony of starting up the turbines at the power station and switching the power through to Hobart.

The Hydro-Electric scheme came into commercial operation on 15 August 1916, and there were 1999 consumers in the Hobart area.

Expansion

Increased demand for electricity brought about the construction of the second stage of the scheme. A large 27 arch concrete dam was built at Miena, and this raised the level of the Great Lake by 12.5 metres.

The Liawenee Canal was built during this expansion period. This canal diverted water from the upper Ouse River into the Great Lake. The canal to Penstock Lagoon was widened, and seven extra machines were installed at the power station, giving it a total capacity of 49,000 kilowatts.

The plant ran almost continuously, and was retired from service in its 50th year to allow the water supply to be better used at Poatina.

Waddamana 'B'

In 1939 it was decided to increase the installed generating capacity at Waddamana. A new building was constructed at right angles to the original station and is known as Waddamana 'B'.

Although progress was hampered by World War II, the generators were installed by 1946, and a duplicate canal to Penstock lagoon was completed in 1948. The development was complete when a fourth machine was installed in 1949. The station is controlled from the original power station and is now used as a standby station.

Field Studies Centre

In 1974, part of the village was sold. It is now used as a Field Studies Centre by Tasmanian schools.

The Museum

During 1988 the first phase of the museum was opened to the public. It is intended to expand the museum's exhibits to include early electrical appliances and other items associated with the generation of electricity.

The museum is open daily from 10am to 4pm, and admission is free. Closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day only. For further information phone (002) 59 6175.

Thanks is given to the Hydro-Electric Commission, Tasmania, Public and Environmental Affairs Department for this information.

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