The Snowy Mountains scheme or Snowy scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia. The Scheme consists of sixteen major dams; seven power stations; one pumping station; and 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts that were constructed between 1949 and 1974 It diverts the reliable waters of the south-flowing Snowy River, westwards, beneath the Great Dividing Range, and in doing so provides electric power and additional water for the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers to be used for irrigation, Construction started on the Scheme on the 17 October 1949, when the Governor-General, Sir William McKell, Prime Minister Ben Chifley and William Hudson fired the first blast at Adaminaby. Construction was completed in 1974, for a total historical cost (funded by Commonwealth Government advances) of $820 million.Of the 100,000 people who worked on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme between 1949 and 1974, more than 65 per cent were migrants from over 30 countries. This was because at the time the Australian government was advertising for immigrants to move and live in Australia and European immigrants were eager to seek for a better life after the Second World War which had left Europe torn apart! The snowy mountain scheme is still one of today’s most amazing engineering feats.
- Rhys B.R.
