Crotty Dam, Embankment dam in Western Tasmania, Australia
Crotty Dam is an embankment structure across the King River in Western Tasmania built from rock and gravel with a concrete facing. The dam creates a large reservoir that supplies water through an underground tunnel for power generation.
The structure was completed in 1991 as part of a hydroelectric development scheme on the King River following the cancellation of earlier power projects in the region. Its construction represented a shift in Tasmania's approach to energy infrastructure.
The dam bears the name of James Crotty, founder of North Mount Lyell Copper Mine, and the former town of Crotty now lies beneath Lake Burbury.
The structure is located in a remote area of western Tasmania and can be difficult to access, so checking road conditions beforehand is important. The best time to visit is during the drier months when roads are in better condition.
The structure was one of the first to use flexible joints in its spillway design to manage settlement issues. This innovative engineering solution was successfully applied at this scale for the first time.
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