Snowy Mountains Scheme

The Snowy Mountains Scheme is a hydroelectric complex in New South Wales with sixteen dams, seven power stations, one pumping facility and 225 kilometers (140 miles) of underground tunnels. The installations spread through mountain terrain and connect rivers with artificial lakes that store water and use it for electricity generation.

Construction began in 1949 as a response to water shortage and energy demand after the Second World War and employed more than one hundred thousand workers from thirty countries. The entire system was completed in 1974 and marked at the time the largest engineering project in the southern hemisphere.

The name Snowy refers to the snow-capped peaks of the region, which carry snow for up to five months in winter and were once used mainly by shepherds. Today the reservoirs and stations serve as technical monuments where visitors can observe the scale of hydroelectric installations up close.

Some locations are accessible via mountain roads that are often closed in winter due to snow and ice. The facilities lie in remote areas with weak mobile coverage, so planning the route beforehand is recommended.

The operational base at Cabramurra sits at 1481 meters (4859 feet) above sea level and is considered the highest permanently inhabited settlement in the country. The residents of the place work almost exclusively for the operation and maintenance of the hydroelectric system.

Location: New South Wales

Inception: 1972

Address: Snowy Mountains Hwy, Cabramurra NSW

GPS coordinates: -36.12000,148.60000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:45