On e the throwaway river 1 two the snowy river alliance 21 three rough and tumble 51 four the snowy water inquiry 80 five getting political 105 six ngrams choice 3 seven a tale of two rivers. Intensive soil conservation methods were undertaken wherever the natural vegetation. The dams main purpose is to store water used in the generation of hydropower. After world war ii, in the early 1950s, migrants from over many different countries came to australia to work on the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme. Engineering features of the snowy mountains scheme snowy. The snowy mountains scheme is an integrated water and hydroelectric power utility located in australias southern alps which is operated and maintained by snowy hydro. The snowy mountains scheme collects water from melting snow and rainfall in the mountains. The dams main purpose is to store water used in the generation of hydro power. Times of drought in inland new south wales brought forth calls for the westward diversion of the rivers flowing off the snowy mountains. The new south wales, federal and victorian governments have agreed to privatise one of australias greatest infrastructure projects, the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme, and have presented the sale to the australian people. A river, however, runs determinedly through the history of the snowy. A history tells the extraordinary story of the mostly migrant workforce who built one of the worlds engineering marvels. Which party deserves credit for the snowy mountains scheme.
Construction started on the scheme on 17 october 1949, when the governorgeneral, sir william mckell. Heritage by judy nunn meet your next favorite book. The snowy river is a major river in southeastern australia. In the 1990s, 99% of the snowy river s natural flow was held by the scheme, much of it ending up being diverted into the river murray. It was the first out of sixteen major dams to be completed in the snowy mountains scheme a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed between 1949 and 1974. Fed by melting snows, the river plays a major role in the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme, one of the worlds largest power and irrigation projects. In 1964, jindabyne dam, built by the snowy mountains scheme, caused the flooding of the old town of jindabyne on the banks of the snowy river. In the 1990s, 99% of the snowy rivers natural flow was held by the scheme, much of it ending up being diverted into the river murray. The headwaters of the river were turned around to flow inland instead of to the sea, and an insidious decline began. The snowy mountains hydro electric scheme was an ambitious engineering project to turn back the waters of rivers that flowed east from the snowy mountains and channel them inland for electricity generation and irrigation. Snowy mountains hydroelectric authority 1972 language. After leaving the high country and passing through the reservoirs, weirs, tunnels, pipes, pumps and dams of the hydro scheme, the snowy loops through the monaro high plains. Snowy hydro limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in australia that owns, manages, and maintains the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme which consists of nine hydroelectric power stations and sixteen large dams connected by 145 kilometres 90 mi of tunnels and 80 kilometres 50 mi of aqueducts located mainly in the kosciuszko national park.
The snowy hydro scheme is an iconic project in australian infrastructure provision, so it was good to read such an interesting account of its history. Snowy mountains hydro electric authority 1972 language. It originates on the slopes of mount kosciuszko, australias highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the snowy mountains in new south wales, before flowing through the alpine national park and the snowy river national park in victoria and emptying into bass strait. The snowy mountains have a rich history and attract. Snowy mountains hydro national museum of australia. They came to change the course of a river and changed the course of their lives. A wonderful sociohistorical document and an engrossing read a fine achievement. Unfortunately the video presentation was out of order so may have missed out on things that helped the centre make sense. Is the snowy mountains scheme the achievement of the. The scheme collects and stores the water that would normally flow east to the coast and diverts it through transmountain tunnels and power stations. Their destination was the town of cooma, new south wales which was central to the snowy scheme. The way the author draws on the stories of the individual employees and contractors, helps paints a vivid picture of the what it was to work there and brings real intimacy to the story. However, the snowy was dammed at jindabyne in 1967 for electricity generation as part of the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme.
The snowy mountains hydro electric scheme was inaugurated in 1949, although its origins date back to the late nineteenth century. History of the snowy mountains scheme 70 years on newcastle. Object registration 2122 keywords snowy river snowy mountains hydro electric scheme environmental historical information. Building the snowy snowy mountains hydro electric scheme. The snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme was inaugurated in 1949, although its origins date back to the late nineteenth century. On july 7 1949, the commonwealth parliament passed the snowy mountains hydro electric power act 1949 the act, which established the snowy mountains hydro electric authority, the operating body of the snowy mountains scheme. The snowy mountains scheme has the distinction of being the most complex, multipurpose, multireservoir hydro scheme in the world with its 80 kilometres of aqueducts, 140 kilometres of tunnels, 16 large dams and seven power stations, two of which are underground. Snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme irrigation project. It was hit hard during the 200607 drought but snowy hydro, which owns, manages and maintains the scheme today, says enough efficiencies were found to and keep it operational. The building of the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme was a pivotal event in australias history. Snowy hydro the jindabyne story c1965 clip 1 on aso.
A history tells the extraordinary story of the mostly migrant workforce who built one of the worlds engineering marvels the snowy scheme was an extraordinary engineering feat carried out over twentyfive years from 1949 to 1974 one that drove rivers through tunnels built through the australian alps, irrigated the dry inland and generated energy for the densely populated. In all these circumstances the snowy scheme was seen as an unwelcome competitor, particularly its capacity to sell into the grid in the middle part of the load curve, at the margin with thermal power. The snowy mountains scheme or snowy scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in southeast australia. Construction began in 1949, when the federal parliament passed an act. Crosssection of the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme, powerhouse museum collection the building of the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme was a pivotal event in australias history. Our exploration of this stretch was very nonlinear. It originates on the slopes of mount kosciuszko, australias highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the snowy mountains in new south wales, before flowing through the alpine national park and the snowy river national park in victoria and emptying into bass strait while the rivers course and.
Construction of the scheme followed more than 60 years of discussion about how to take advantage of the snowy river as a natural resource. In 1958, two men called arthur costello arrived in the small australian town of jindabyne, on the fabled snowy river. After world war ii, in the early 1950s, migrants from over many different countries came to australia to work on the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme. The film promotes the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme, a major postsecond world war construction project and a huge engineering feat. It documents the story of the campaign to save the snowy river. After a huge, grassroots campaign and a lot of political lobbying, the four governments involved in the scheme victoria, new south wales, south australia and the federal government finally agreed to return a. History of the snowy mountains scheme and notes on electricity generation and.
Built between 1949 and 1974, it consists of 16 large dams, 7 power stations, a pumping station, 145 km of tunnels and 80 km of aqueducts that diverted water from the snowy mountains for use in power. Between 1949 and 1974 the workforce built seven power stations, 16 dams, 80 kilometres of aqueducts and 145 kilometres of tunnels as well as 1600 kilometres of roads and train tracks. The scheme was designed to collect and store water, including water that would otherwise flow east down the snowy river to the coast, divert it through transmountain tunnels and power stations and then release it west of the snowy mountains into the catchments of the river murray and the murrumbidgee river. Object registration 2122 keywords snowyriver snowymountainshydroelectricscheme environmental historical information. In 1949 the australian parliament passed an act authorizing the project and creating the snowy mountains hydroelectric authority to manage it. The snowy mountains hydro electric scheme changed forever the landscape of the mountains around kiandra. A history will be published by newsouth in may 2019.
The snowy scheme was an extraordinary engineering feat carried out over twentyfive years from 1949 to 1974 one that drove rivers through tunnels built through the australian alps, irrigated the dry inland and generated energy for the densely populated east. Shot prior to the event, this is a wistful and rather charming sequence that attempts to capture the history and spirit of a region about to change forever. Crosssection of the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme, powerhouse museum collection. Construction started on the scheme on 17 october 1949, when the governorgeneral, sir william mckell, prime minister ben. Its been announced that the snowy mountains hydro scheme has made the national heritage list. Snowy the making of modern australia is also available on kindle. They were part of a 7,000strong workforce building the biggest hydroelectric. Fighting for the snowy river australian geographic. It took 25 years to build and is one of the largest and most complex integrated water and hydroelectric power schemes in operation in the world.
Before the scheme was built, most of this water flowed into the snowy river, which emptied into the sea. The snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme is the most complex, multipurpose, multireservoir hydro scheme in the world with 80 kilometres of aqueducts, 140 kilometres of tunnels, 16 large dams and seven power. The snowy riv er has the highest headwater source of any in australia and draws away a large proportion of the waters from the southeastern new south wale s snowfiel ds. Guthega dam snowy mountains nsw the guthega dam is an uncontrolled spillway in the snowy river. Oct 24, 2016 its been announced that the snowy mountains hydro scheme has made the national heritage list. A history tells the extraordinary story of the mostly migrant workforce who. In the postwwii period, it attracted migrant workers, who helped to change food culture in australia. An updated edition covering contemporary environmental issues is now in print and available from snowy hydros information centre, through bookshops isbn 9780977502936, online at booktopia or from coretext books. How the snowy mountains hydro scheme helped shape australia. Its one of the most complex projects ever undertaken in australia. May 07, 2007 drought has left the mighty snowy mountains hydro electric scheme with so little water it has become a generator of last resort. The privatisation of australias iconic infrastructure project is set to go ahead despite widespread public opposition, writes peter westmore.
Dams, power stations and tunnels were built so that the water from the snowy river could be used to provide power and irrigation. The scheme diverts the headwaters of the snowy, eucumbene and murrumbidgee rivers westward through the great dividing range, releasing water into the murray and murrumbidgee rivers. The snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme was one of the most complex engineering projects in the world. A 270pp paperback book titled snowy river story written by claire miller. On july 7 1949, the commonwealth parliament passed the snowy mountains hydroelectric power act 1949 the act, which established the snowy mountains hydroelectric authority, the operating body of the snowy mountains scheme. It tells the story of four generations of women, set against the inundation of the small town of adaminaby, lost to the huge eucumbene dam in the late 1950s.
The snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme was an ambitious engineering project to turn back the waters of rivers that flowed east from the snowy mountains and channel them inland for electricity generation and irrigation. The snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme is widely regarded as one of australias greatest engineering achievements. The construction of the sn owy moun tains s cheme was seen as a means of supplementing the flow of the great inland rivers, a means for dev eloping hydroe lectric power, and also a. Snowy mountains scheme australian food history timeline. Snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme behind the news youtube. The book thief by markus zusak cloudstreet by tim winton a town like alice by nevil. The snowy mountains hydro electric scheme is the most complex, multipurpose, multireservoir hydro scheme in the world with 80 kilometres of aqueducts, 140 kilometres of tunnels, 16 large dams and seven power. Guthega pondage is a perfect metaphor for the snowys modern story, which has little to do with poetic notions of the high country. There are many more books, subjects include trout fishing, snowy scheme, snowy mountains and adaminaby, bushrangers, brumbies, camping and bushwalking guides, knp and namadgi. Emily ballous interesting novel aphelion picador 2007 draws with permission on stories and imagery from my book, the snowy.
The saga of the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme. The attacks on the snowy scheme began, initially, on the basis that thermal power was cheaper than snowy hydro. An interesting collection of information relating to the snowy hydro scheme. It took 25 years to build and is one of the largest and most complex integrated water and hydro electric power schemes in operation in the world. Based on mchughs book, directed by stephen ramsey, assoc producer. There the water is used by power stations to generate. In snowy river a major role in the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme, one of the worlds largest power and irrigation projects. Then seemed like a random layout of different aspects of the snowy hydro scheme with no apparent logical progression of info. The scheme virtually reverses the flow of the snowy river from its natural course toward the ocean and directs it inland. Oct 25, 2016 its been announced that the snowy mountains hydro scheme has made the national heritage list. Other articles where snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme is discussed. Engineering features of the snowy mountains scheme.
Nunn, ensures that this pivotal engineering project is not lost in the history books. Now most of the water is diverted through tunnels to lakes and reservoirs formed by dams. Snowy hydro scheme explained snowy hydro discovery. The film promotes the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme, a major postsecond world war construction project and a huge engineering feat. Not only did it create one of the engineering wonders of the modern world, it also laid the foundations of a uniquely multicultural modern nation. Last month its massive storages were down to about 10 per cent of. The snowy scheme was an extraordinary engineering feat carried out over twentyfive years from 1949 to 1974 one that drove rivers through tunnels built through the australian alps, irrigated the dry inland and generated energy for the densely. Not only did it create one of the engineering wonders of the modern world, it also laid the foundations of a. The snowy mountains have a rich history and attract millions of people to their slopes every year. Sep 20, 2019 the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme was an ambitious engineering feat that changed the face of australia.
Its waters are impounded at a high elevation, diverted through tunnels under the australian alps to generate electricity, and then discharged into the murray and murrumbidgee rivers. As told through the bestselling history, snowy the making of modern australia by journalist and author brad collis. Snowy mountains scheme the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme is one of the most complex integrated water and hydroelectric power schemes in the world. The snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme was an ambitious engineering feat that changed the face of australia.
How snowy hydro uses the natual cycle of water to generate electricity. May 01, 2019 the snowy hydro scheme is an iconic project in australian infrastructure provision, so it was good to read such an interesting account of its history. Drought has left the mighty snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme with so little water it has become a generator of last resort. The story of barcroft boake bush poet of the monaro. The entire complex includes 16 dams, seven power stations with a production capacity of 3,740,000 kilowatts, over 90 miles of tunnels, a pumping station, and 50 miles of aqueducts. On the front cover is a coloured photograph of the snowy river at bete bolong. The snowy mountains scheme is powering up to mark 70 successful years. On e the throwaway river 1 two the snowy river alliance 21 three rough and tumble 51 four the snowy water inquiry 80 five getting political 105 six ngrams choice 3 seven a tale of two rivers 161 eight a little bit of history. Emily ballou s interesting novel aphelion picador 2007 draws with permission on stories and imagery from my book, the snowy. First published on 40th anniversary of the snowy scheme, 1989 by heinemann. I n early 2019, a representative of energy company snowy hydro contacted a snowy mountains hardware retailer and placed an order for 16,000 star pickets, to be used in the preparation work for snowy 2. Snowy hydro limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in australia that owns, manages, and maintains the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme which consists of nine hydro electric power stations and sixteen large dams connected by 145 kilometres 90 mi of tunnels and 80 kilometres 50 mi of aqueducts located mainly in the kosciuszko national park.
1413 712 513 689 1285 1079 542 507 65 686 19 773 163 717 471 488 605 443 673 962 1264 1010 941 699 1074 1362 349 129 622 1345 1027 1233 679 1492 1138 1225 938 172 1309 1170 1195 1077 1498 643 663 537 527