Rowallan Power Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rowallan Dam |
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 Location of the Rowallan Dam in Tasmania
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| Country | Australia |
| Location | North-western Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 41°43′48″S 146°12′36″E / 41.73000°S 146.21000°E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1963 |
| Opening date | 1967 |
| Owner(s) | Hydro Tasmania |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Mersey River |
| Height | 43 metres (141 ft) |
| Length | 579 metres (1,900 ft) |
| Dam volume | 497 thousand cubic metres (17.6×106 cu ft) |
| Spillways | 1 |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway capacity | 685 cubic metres per second (24,200 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Rowallan Lake |
| Total capacity | 130,490 megalitres (4,608×106 cu ft) |
| Catchment area | 345 square kilometres (133 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 88.6 hectares (219 acres) |
| Maximum length | 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) |
| Normal elevation | 488 metres (1,601 ft) |
| Power station | |
| Name | Rowallan Power Station |
| Operator(s) | Hydro Tasmania |
| Commission date | 1968 |
| Type | Conventional |
| Hydraulic head | 49 metres (161 ft) |
| Turbines | 1 x 10.5 MW (14,100 hp) Maier Francis turbine |
| Installed capacity | 10.5 megawatts (14,100 hp) |
| Capacity factor | 0.95 |
| Annual generation | 45 gigawatt-hours (160 TJ) |
The Rowallan Power Station is a special kind of power plant in north-western Tasmania, Australia. It uses the power of water to make electricity. This station is part of a bigger system called the Mersey-Forth scheme. It is located about 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of a town called Liena.
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How Rowallan Power Station Works
The Rowallan Power Station is one of eight hydroelectric power stations in the Mersey–Forth scheme. It is the first station in this big system. The power station sits about 200 metres (660 ft) below the Rowallan Dam. This dam creates a large lake called Lake Rowallan.
The dam is very important because it helps control the water flow for four other power stations further downstream. This ensures they also have enough water to make electricity.
Making Electricity
The power station started working in 1971. It was built by a company called Hydro Tasmania. Inside the station, there is a special machine called a Maier Francis turbine. This turbine uses the force of falling water to spin. As it spins, it generates about 10.5 megawatts (14,100 hp) of electricity.
Each year, the Rowallan Power Station produces around 45 gigawatt-hours (160 TJ) of electricity. This power is then sent to a company called TasNetworks. They use transmission lines to carry the electricity to homes and businesses.
Rowallan Lake
The Rowallan Lake is a large lake connected to the dam. It is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long and covers an area of 9 square kilometres (3.5 sq mi). The lake sits 488 metres (1,601 ft) above sea level. It is surrounded by beautiful natural features like Clumner Bluff and Howells Bluff.
Fishing and Fun at the Lake
The Tasmanian Inland Fisheries Service looks after Lake Rowallan. It is a popular spot for fishing, especially for trout. Both Brown trout and Rainbow trout are put into the lake for people to catch. You can also find native fish like Climbing galaxias, Spotted galaxias, and River blackfish here.
Lake Rowallan is also a great starting point for walks into the nearby highland areas. One popular destination is the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. In 2010, some checks were done on the dam to make sure it was strong and safe.
Why the Name Rowallan?
Both the power station and the lake are named after a person called Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan. He used to be the Governor of Tasmania.
