The Gordon Catchment

The Gordon River scheme has created the largest water storage in Australia. It is nearly eight times the size of the Great Lake and three times the size of Lake Eucumbene, the largest lake in the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Lake Pedder has a surface area of 242 square kilometres and a total volume of 2.9 cubic kilometres. Lake Gordon has a surface area of 272 square kilometres and total volume of 12.4 cubic kilometres. It represents 35 percent of the Tasmania's total energy storage capacity.

Lake Pedder was created by the construction of a large rockfill dam on the upper reaches of the Huon River at Scotts Peak and another on the Serpentine River above its junction with the Gordon. A small dam was also constructed across a low marshy area at Lake Edgar, near Scotts Peak. Lake Gordon was created by the building of a 140 metre high concrete arch dam across the Gordon River above its junction with the Serpentine River. Water from the two lakes is used in the underground Gordon Power Station situated near the Gordon Dam.

Gordon underground power station

Scotts Dam Peak

Lake Pedder provides about 41 percent of the water used in the Gordon Power Station. Water from the lake flows via McPartlan Canal into Lake Gordon.

The Gordon Power Station is the largest in Tasmania. The underground excavation has a total volume in excess of 67,000 cubic metres making it more than twice as big as Poatina. Water from Lake Gordon passes through a cylindrical intake at the base of an 80 metre intake tower. It falls 140 metres on its journey through a vertical intake shaft along a power tunnel to the three large Francis turbines. The first two generators were commissioned in 1978 and a third in 1988. Each has a capacity of 144 MW. Water leaving the power station flows out along a 1.6 kilometre tailrace tunnel to the Gordon River.

Roads leading into the area have a number of viewing points and tourist facilities. Variation in the level of Lake Pedder is limited to 1.5 metres. This enhances its popularity as a venue for fishermen and tourists.


Lake Pedder