Mullumbimby Hydro-electric Power Station Complex, Hydroelectric power station complex in New South Wales, Australia
Mullumbimby Hydro-electric Power Station Complex is a historic electricity generation facility in New South Wales that incorporates weirs, pipelines, and a powerhouse with timber framing and corrugated iron cladding. The installation demonstrates the typical layout of an early hydroelectric system with multiple components working together to convert water flow into electrical power.
Mullumbimby Municipal Council commissioned William Corin in September 1923 to design the scheme, and the powerhouse site was surveyed in December 1924. Water from the Lavertys Gap weir reached the turbines through a 440 m race and a 106.7 m tunnel completed on 1 December 1925. The town was first lit in December 1925, and official supply began on 6 March 1926, making it the fifth large-scale hydroelectric station on mainland Australia. It was decommissioned in 1990.
The power house still holds its original machinery: two 225 hp Pelton turbines coupled to 140 kilowatt GEC alternators, plus Ruston Lincoln and Mirrlees Ricardo diesel engines added as demand grew. The station's name honours Lavertys Gap, the creek crossing where the weir was built, and locals still call it the Lavertys Gap Power Station.
The complex lies off Wilsons Creek Road among the hills outside Mullumbimby, with the powerhouse cut into the hillside behind concrete retaining walls up to almost 2 m high. The weir at Lavertys Gap and the tunnel through the gap are separate points along the water route, so allow time to move between them. The site is owned by Byron Shire Council and Essential Energy; access to the buildings is not described in the sources, so confirm arrangements before travelling.
The 7-meter weir at Lavertys Gap served two purposes at once, generating power while supplying drinking water to the town. This dual function was a practical solution that saved resources and improved the financial viability of the entire operation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,213 contributors worldwide.