Started over 70 years ago, the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme was an incredibly large project that took several decades to complete. With electric lights showing the lakes and power stations, the National Library holds a silver-plated relief model of the scheme. This model was commissioned for the start of construction and presented by the Commonwealth Government to His Excellency the Right Honourable W.J. McKell on the 17th October 1949.

Watch as Library Curator, Susannah Helman, discusses this model currently on display in the Library’s Treasures Gallery.

The model mentioned in this digital tour is: 

  • Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority, Model of Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Development, 1949, nla.cat-vn200120

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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