Moorina Power Station
| Company type | Former power station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power generation |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Moorina , Australia |
| Products | Electricity |
The Moorina Power Station is a former hydroelectric facility located near Moorina in the north-eastern region of Tasmania, Australia. It began operations in 1909 and was retired in 2008, making it the oldest functioning electricity generator in Australia at the time of its closure.
Concept and construction
Established in 1900, the Pioneer Tin Mining Company developed tin extraction operations near Pioneer, Tasmania. During this period, Tasmania had only one dedicated power plant situated in Launceston. Due to limited water availability for sluicing and significant firewood consumption, the Moorina Scheme was introduced to provide both electrical power and sluicing water. Construction commenced in 1908, with the initial turbine becoming operational in March 1909.
Technical details
The power station occupies a compact corrugated iron structure measuring 10 by 15 meters, accompanied by several heritage outbuildings including residential buildings from 1908 and 1939. Water supply originates from a concrete-faced rockfill dam built across the Frome River, positioned approximately 1.6 kilometers south of the power station. This dam was Australia's pioneering structure of its type, standing 18 meters tall and extending 197 meters long following modifications completed in 1911. A water race and penstock stretching 2.7 kilometers channel water to the turbines.
Despite some claims of having only one turbine, Moorina actually contained three generating units each rated at 325 kW, operating at a frequency of 50 Hz and voltage of 6.5 kV. Although the combined nameplate capacity totaled roughly 975 kW, official documentation records an output of merely 600 kW for reasons that remain unspecified. The use of 50 Hz alternators enabled compatibility with Tasmania’s main hydroelectric network. The turbines were produced by J.M. Voight in Germany, while alternators were provided by Berlin-based AEG.
Decommissioning
Following the closure of the Pioneer tin mine in the mid-1980s, Moorina Hydro Pty. Ltd. continued to operate the station with a minimal workforce. The facility was ultimately decommissioned in 2008 due to prohibitive expenses related to necessary equipment upgrades.