|
Duck Reach Power Station was the first publicly-owned hydro-electric plant in the Southern Hemisphere, and provided the Tasmanian city of Launceston with hydro-electric power from its construction in 1895 to its closure in 1955. Hydraulic turbine and electrical generator. ...
Southern Hemisphere The Southern Hemisphere is the half of a planets surface (or celestial sphere) that is south of the equator (the word hemisphere literally means half ball). On Earth it contains five continents (Antarctica, Australia, most of South America, parts of Africa, and Asia) as well as four...
Emblems: {{{Emblems}}} Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Slogan or Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Const. ...
Launceston City Council, Coat of Arms Launceston City Council, Tasmania Launceston is a small city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia, population approximately 98,000, located at the juncture of the North Esk, South Esk, and Tamar rivers. ...
1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...
1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
 Duck Reach Power Station c1930
Construction
The plant was a 'run of the river' station, making use of very little storage, and instead using the daily flow of the South Esk River to provide sufficient water for generation. An 850-metre tunnel drilled through the rock supplied water from Deadmans Hollow to an iron pipeline that plunged straight down the hill into the power station, with a discharge rate of 5,537 litres per second entering the eight Siemens turbines inside the station. From there water was released into the river at the buildings foot. The plant was constructed at a significant height above the South Esk River so as to prevent it from being damaged in the frequent floods that rush down the Cataract Gorge due to heavy rainfall. The South Esk River is the longest river in Tasmania. ...
The South Esk River is the longest river in Tasmania. ...
The Cataract Gorge Reserve is one of Launceston and northern Tasmanias premier tourist attractions. ...
Operational History The Duck Reach plant worked smoothly from 1895 until around 1910. However, as the late 1900s progressed, demand for electricity rose, and the 1-megawatt Duck Reach plant could no longer supply Launceston with all the electricity it needed. The construction of an electric tramway system in 1911 intensified the problem. The plant was duly upgraded in stages, until, in 1911, it reached a maximum of 2 megawatts, a capacity it kept until the end of its working life. TW2000 car in Hanover Volkswagen Cargo-Tram in Dresden on a section of grassed track. ...
Despite its height above the river, the plant was destroyed in the great floods in Cataract Gorge in December, 1929. However, it was promptly rebuilt and resumed service by 1930. The Cataract Gorge Reserve is one of Launceston and northern Tasmanias premier tourist attractions. ...
1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...
However, the plant was still unable to meet Launceston's electrical needs. By 1934 the City of Launceston was also buying electricity from the Tasmanian Hydro-Electric Commission, in addition to operating the overworked Duck Reach plant. In 1944 the Launceston City Council sold Duck Reach to the same organisation. 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...
Hydro Tasmania is the predominant electricity generator in the state of Tasmania, Australia. ...
By then, its days were numbered. Construction of a new South Esk River hydro-electric power plant began in 1951 and the Trevallyn Dam Power Station were completed in 1955. The Duck Reach station soon closed, and its equipment removed. The buildings stood derelict and closed for over 40 years, until 1995 when, on the centenery of its first opening, it was re-opened as a museum. It has become a popular tourist attraction. The South Esk River is the longest river in Tasmania. ...
1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
See also Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...
Itaipu Dam is a hydroelectric generating station Electricity generation is the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ...
Energy development is the ongoing effort to provide abundant and accessible energy, through knowledge, skills and constructions. ...
Renewable energy (sources) or RES capture their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind, flowing water (hydropower), biological processes such as anaerobic digestion, and geothermal heat flow. ...
Assembly of an Enercon E-70 wind turbine Modern technology uses large amounts of electrical power. ...
References - Hydro Tasmania; South Esk Power Development, [1], Accessed June 2006.
External links - Parks & Wildlife Service, Tasmania - Short Walks #12, Duck Reach
|
Feeds |
Contact