The Waddamana Hydroelectric power stations (originally known as the Great Lake Scheme) comprise two decommissioned conventional hydroelectric power stations and a gravity dam, subsequently submerged, located in the Central Highlands region of Tasmania, Australia.
The first station, commissioned in 1916, was the first hydro-electric power plant in Australia and was operated by the Tasmanian Hydro-Electric Department (later, Hydro Tasmania), until it was decommissioned in 1965. The second power station was commissioned in 1949 and decommissioned in 1995. The power stations were supplied by water from the Shannon River, via the Great Lake, that was impounded by the Miena Dam No. 1, later enlarged as the Miena Dam No. 2, and subsequently submerged below the current Miena Rockfill Dam. The latter dam was commissioned in 1966 to supply water for the Poatina Power Station.
On 6 May 1988, the first power station was officially opened as a technology museum, called the Waddamana Power Station Heritage Site. Waddamana is an Aboriginal word for "noisy water". later the Hydro Electric Commission, and now, Hydro Tasmania. The first dam, high, called the Miena Dam No. 1, was commissioned in 1916 to supply water for the generation of hydroelectricity at the Waddamana Power Station, later called Waddamana A. It was the first plant ever operated by the Department.
The plant operated at its original capacity of from 1916 via two turbines; a third turbine was added in 1919. After 1922, six turbines were installed to meet increased demand. Power was carried approximately to Hobart, via an 88kV transmission line, supported by steel towers. and, in 2014, the original 1920s infrastructure is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
Waddamana B
In 1931, the Hydro-Electric Commission decided to construct a completely new plant to replace the original Waddamana Power Station, renamed as Waddamana A. However, war-time pressures meant that there was limited funding and, between 1939 and 1949, the HEC built the new power station adjacent to the existing plant. The two power plants operated side-by-side until 1965. The new plant was referred to as Waddamana B, and it generated from four turbines.
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 decommissionedShannon 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.