Tumut Pondage, Arch dam in Snowy Mountains, Australia.
Tumut Pondage is an arch dam built across the Tumut River in the Snowy Mountains. The curved concrete structure holds back water that flows through an underground power station located downriver.
Construction of this dam took place from 1949 to 1959 as a key component of Australia's Snowy Mountains Scheme. The project transformed the region's water management and energy production capabilities.
Frank Hurley's photographic documentation of the dam's construction provides a visual record of this engineering achievement in Australian history.
The best vantage point is from the dam crest, where you can see the engineering in context and look out across the landscape. The site is easy to access, but dress for changing mountain weather and bring sturdy footwear.
The dam crest doubles as a road connecting two mountain villages and closes during winter when snow becomes too heavy. This seasonal closure reveals how extreme the conditions can become at this elevation.
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