Waddamana Power Stations

HEPMCo Advertisement in the Weekly Courier annual supplement for 1912

The privately owned Tasmanian Hydro-Electric Power and Metallurgical Co. Ltd. (HEPMCo) first took a serious interest in generating hydro-electric power from one of Tasmania's highland rivers in late 1909, to provide power for James Hyndes Gillies' newly patented electrolytic process for zinc refining, and a "carbide" smelter to be constructed near Snug. They resolved to construct a hydro-electric power plant in the valley of the Ouse River, above the town that bears that name. Water was to be provided by a small dam on the great lake at Miena, which would then divert water down the steep drop using a woodstave pipeline and a flume. Construction began in earnest in 1910.

However, the Tasmanian Hydro-Electric Power and Metallurgical Co. ran out of money before the scheme could be completed, and they sold the incomplete works to the newly formed Hydro-Electric Department in 1914. The works were completed under Hydro-Electric Department ownership in 1915, and the plant was officially opened in 1916. It was the first plant ever operated by them.

The plant operated at its original capacity of 7 megawatts (9,400 hp) from 1916 via 2 x 4,900HP(3.65MW) turbines; a 3rd turbine was added in 1919. After 1922, 6 x 8,000HP (5.96MW) turbines were installed to meet increased demand.[2]

In 1931, the Hydro-Electric Commission decided to construct a completely new plant to replace the original Waddamana power station (to be known as (Waddamana A). However, a lack of funds forced them to build it alongside the existing plant instead. Between 1939 and 1949, construction took place for Waddamana B, and until 1965, two power plants were in operation at Waddamana. The new plant was referred to as Waddamana B, and it generated 48 megawatts (64,000 hp) of electricity from four turbines.[3]

Both Waddamana plants operated through the 1940s and 1950s, but, in the early 1960s, construction of a new, larger power plant at Poatina began. Designed to replace the two Waddamana plants, with the small Shannon plant nearby, the Poatina power plant was opened in 1964 with a capacity of 325 megawatts (436,000 hp), over three times the combined capacity of the plants it replaced.

In order for the Poatina plant to be successful, it was necessary to stop the flow of water through Waddamana A and Shannon, both of which were decommissioned (Shannon in 1964, Waddamana A in 1965). The Shannon plant was demolished, but the two Waddamana plants remained standing. Waddamana B remained in active service until 1995 when it too was closed. Waddamana A now has a new life as a museum filled with original equipment and other displays, including the Control room switchboard from the Shannon Power Station.

Waddamana 'A' station is listed as a National Engineering Landmark by Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.[4]

• Waddamana Power Station Museum - Hydro Tasmania