Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
23 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
23 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
23 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
23 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Australia Waddamana Waddamana Power Station

Waddamana Power Station

The decommissioned station is now a museum packed with antiquated hydroelectricity artifacts.

Waddamana, Australia

Added By
Kris McCracken
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Turbine hall.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Turbine hall.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Waddamana A Power Station.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Pelton wheel turbines.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Looking east.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Control room.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
General office.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Fire safety.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Transformer station.   Kris McCracken / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Waddamana Hydro-Electric power station was Tasmania’s first hydroelectric power plant, operating 1916 through to 1995. In fact, there were two stations in Waddamana: A (decommissioned in 1965) and B (built between 1939 and 1949).

Waddamana A is now a museum and holds a well-preserved collection of antiquated technology. The museum is filled with original equipment and other displays, including the control room switchboard, general offices restored to as they were in 1950, tool rooms, and stores. Keep an eye out for the massive hand-made spanners that workers had to strike with 10-kilogram hammers to shift the bolts!

The turbine hall itself is a thing of beauty, containing nine Pelton wheel turbines connected to powerful alternators that at one time generated the energy that started Tasmania’s industrial activity. Be sure to stop by the control room, with all the panels constructed from marble. It's quiet today, but you can easily imagine the noise of all turbines running. The view looking up to the steep pipes that transported the water downhill and into the station—the "penstocks"—is striking.

Building an advanced station in an isolated region of an island at the bottom of the globe proved difficult, with incredibly limited access in for workers, supplies, and equipment in a hostile climate. There’s a wonderful series of photographs that capture the effort, and the frigid temperature gives a sharp insight to what those early workers must have felt.

Bonus fact: “Waddamana” is a Palawa kani word meaning “noisy water,” only proper for a hydroelectric station!

Related Tags

Power Stations Museums Industrial Energy

Know Before You Go

Waddamana is located deep in a valley close to the geographical centre of Tasmania, 26 miles (42 kilometers) northwest of the town of Bothwell, and 74 miles (119 kilometers) from the State capital, Hobart.

Waddamana Power Station is at the halfway point of the Highlands Power Trail, a self-drive journey through the Great Lake Power Scheme.

Community Contributors

Added By

Kris McCracken

Published

November 7, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddamana_Power_Stations
Waddamana Power Station
Waddamana Rd
Waddamana, 7030
Australia
-42.124629, 146.746462
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Steppes Sculptures

Steppes, Australia

miles away

The Wall In The Wilderness

Derwent Bridge, Australia

miles away

Jimmy Possum Chair

Deloraine, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Nearby Places

The Steppes Sculptures

Steppes, Australia

miles away

The Wall In The Wilderness

Derwent Bridge, Australia

miles away

Jimmy Possum Chair

Deloraine, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Related Places

  • Istanbul, Turkey

    Museum of Energy

    This shuttered power plant is now Turkey's first industrial archaeology museum.

  • A closer shot of Ashalim, again using the iPhone’s digital zoom.

    Ashalim, Israel

    Ashalim Power Station

    Deep in the Negev Desert, the world's tallest solar tower looks like a sight straight out of science fiction.

  • The Zesco Cooling Tower.

    Lusaka, Zambia

    Zesco Cooling Tower

    The abandoned tower is the last remnant of Lusaka's first major power plant.

  • Nivea tins

    Heidelberg, Germany

    Deutsches Verpackungs-Museum

    A small museum dedicated to the history and design of German packaging.

  • The fresco for the World Fair of 1889 in Paris

    Paray-le-Monial, France

    Musée d'Art et d'Industrie Paul Charnoz

    Explore the art and history of intricate, hand-crafted tile designs at this small museum.

  • Engine at NMIH

    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

    National Museum of Industrial History

    A former plant in one of the hubs of U.S. steelmaking has been turned into this museum celebrating the history of American industry.

  • Tummel Bridge Hydro Power Station

    Tummel Bridge, Scotland

    Tummel Bridge Hydro Power Station

    One of Scotland's earliest hydroelectric power stations.

  • Weaving silk on a loom

    Lyon, France

    Maison des Canuts (Silk Workers' Center)

    Explore the 500-year history of silk-making in Lyon at this museum, workshop, and boutique.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.