Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, Queensland

The Barron Gorge Hydro Electric Power Plant was commissioned in 1963 and is located 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Cairns, Queensland, Australia, near Kuranda on the Barron River.

In 1935 the waters of the Barron River were harnessed in the Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station to generate Queensland's first hydroelectric power. Two hundred metres from the base of the Barron Falls an underground power station was carved into the cliff face. Water was delivered through pipes to drive the turbines, two 1200kW turbo-alternators. The substation, workshops and staff houses were built around the area now forming the Skyrail station.

Currently the plant uses two 30MW turbines and is run by the Stanwell Corporation.

History

The conceptulisation for construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Barron River was first suggested back in 1906. It was nearly 30 years before completion was realised. The site presented many challenges including precipitous cliffs, torrential rain, and raging floods were foremost.

During the Power Stations initial construction phase the delivery of equipment was complex. It first came by train to a rail siding, was transferred over the falls and then lowered by tramway to the worksite below.

Hauling equipment from Cairns was relatively easy. There was no road in the early 1930s but there was the railway on the opposite bank. Getting across the gorge was another matter. A flying fox was constructed to solve that problem.

A fragile bridge was also constructed across the top of the Barron Falls, however this failed to withstand the floods. Plans to build an outdoor station were abandoned as earthworks proved too unstable. Going underground proved relatively easy following construction of the tramway down the near vertical clifface.

In November 1935 the Governor of Queensland officially opened Queensland's first hydroelectric power station. Demand for power soon exceeded supply and in 1940 the two 1200kW turbo alternators were supplemented by a 1400kW unit.

The original site was largely dismantled and decommissioned in 1959 and the present Barron Falls power station was commissioned in 1963 further down stream.

Barron Falls is, visually, a mightily impressive gash in the forest and rock. From the far upstream (Kuranda) end of the station, you can spot a white seam of quartz in the rock at the bottom / distant downstream visible end of the gorge. If you trace your eye along this you will spot a small dark hole, which was the power station's wastewater outlet and which is about 10 feet tall.

The jungle now somewhat masks the brown cement and corrugated iron blockhouse on the opposite cliffside. It appears visible as a brown speck with a silver and black speck beneath it, in a carpet of greenery. In September 2006, a $28 million refurbishment of the Barron Gorge Hydro was completed, extending the power station's life for another 40 years and ensuring Far North Queensland continues to benefit from secure, reliable, environmentally responsible energy. The Barron Gorge Hydro Visitors Centre is open to the public from 10:00am (12:00am in the wet season) to 4:00pm daily. The Centre features educational videos and displays, including a working model of a generation unit, and fact sheets on Stanwell's operations. To arrange a tour or for further information, please contact the station on 07 4036 6955.

External links

* [http://www.energex.com.au/switched_on/media/flash/barron_george_diagram/BGORGE.HTM Barron Gorge Tech Diagram]
*Stanwell Corporation page on [http://www.stanwell.com/frame.asp?ContentURL=/sites/barrongorge.asp Barron Gorge]