'Illuminated temple' lost to fire was a remnant of Tasmania's hydro boom
Unless you have a connection to Hydro Tasmania, there is a good chance that this week was the first time you had ever heard of Tungatinah Power Station. The hydro-electric power station was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night — with the cause of the blaze unknown.
Tungatinah Power Station, a remnant of Tasmania's hydroelectric boom, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday night. The facility, located beside the Nive River in Tasmania's Central Highlands, was one of ten major power stations built as part of the Derwent Hydropower Scheme in the 1930s. The scheme aimed to boost the state's economic growth and electricity generation.
Tungatinah's five turbines, commissioned between 1953 and 1956, generated 142.2 megawatts of power, providing about 5 percent of Tasmania's electricity supply. The station featured a modern design using steel, glass, and concrete, with water sourced from nearby lakes and lagoons being used multiple times as it traveled through the network.
The construction of Tungatinah and the surrounding Tarraleah Village, with its diverse migrant workforce from countries like Poland, Britain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Yugoslavia, Russia, and Ukraine, transformed a rugged and remote part of Tasmania. The town, which boasted amenities like a supermarket, butcher, police station, sports ovals, and a golf course, was officially closed in 1996. The loss of Tungatinah is a significant loss to Tasmania's history and heritage.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
