Waddamana, Tasmania

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Waddamana
state = tas


caption =
lga = Central Highlands Council
postcode = 7030
est =
pop =
pop_footnotes=
elevation=
elevation_footnotes=
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Lyons
fedgov = Lyons
dist1 = 112
dir1 = NW
location1= Hobart
dist2 = 101
dir2 = S
location2= Deloraine
dist3 = 30
dir3 = S
location3= Miena

Waddamana is a former 'hydro-town' in Tasmania. It is at the foot of the southern side of the Central Plateau of Tasmania.

It flourished with a population of over 100 in the early 1900s when the power plant situated there was being built. [Rackham, Sarah and Woodberry, Joan (editor) (1981) "Hydro construction villages. Volume one. Waddamana, Shannon, Tarraleah" Hobart: Public Relations Department, Hydro-Electric Commission ] Its current permanent population stands at four or five.

It consists of two decommissioned hydro-electric power stations (see Waddamana power stations), one of which is a museum, and several cottages, most of which are only used by guests. Schools often take their students to Waddamana for camps. It has gained a reputation for its harsh weather - it often snows and icing was a problem when the hydro plants were still in use. [ http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_095018.shtml Nearest climate records are for Tarraleah and Butlers Gorge.]

The Tasmanian Aboriginal name "waddamana" means 'noisy water'.

References