King-Yolande schematic

King-Yolande


Work on the King scheme began in 1984 when the Crotty Dam and the Darwin Dam were constructed to create Lake Burbury.


The Yolande catchment is sourced from Lake Margaret and flows into the Yolande River. Although Lake Margaret is quite a small lake it receives very high rainfall.


The Lake Margaret station and surrounds have been heritage listed since 2007.

John Butters Power Station

John Butters Power Station is named after the Hydro-Electric Department’s first general manager and chief engineer. The water from Lake Burbury drops around 200 m on its 7 km journey through tunnels to John Butters Power Station.
Date commissioned 1992
Generating capacity 145 MW
Number of turbines 1
Type of turbines Francis hydropower
John Butters Power Station
John Butters Power Station_Nearby Crotty Dam
John Butters Power Station_Crotty Dam spillway

Upper Lake Margaret Power Station

Lake Margaret Power Station was built in 1914 by the Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company to provide energy for its mines. We purchased the station in 1985.

Water travels from Lake Margaret through a woodstave pipeline to the power station. The 2.2 km pipeline was replaced in 2009 to make the station more efficient, as part of a major refurbishment.

Guided tours of Lake Margaret Power Station are available through Roam Wild Tasmania.

Date commissioned 1914-30
Generating capacity 8.3 MW
Number of turbines 7
Type of turbines Pelton hydropower
Lake Margaret Power Station
Lake Margaret Power Station_Inside
Lake Margaret Power Station_Operational turbines inside the station
Lake Margaret Power Station_Penstock carrying water to the power station

Lower Lake Margaret mini-hydro

This station was opened in 1931 to provide additional power for the mines. We purchased the station in 1985 and decommissioned it in 1994. A significant redevelopment was completed in 2010 including a new penstock, turbine and woodstave pipeline and the station was reopened.
Date commissioned 1931
Generating capacity 3.2 MW
Number of turbines 1
Type of turbines Turgo hydropower



Lower Lake Margaret Power Station_You can see the blue inlet at the bottomof the photo
Lower Lake Margaret Power Station_New fibre reinforced plastic penstock to the power station
Lower Lake Margaret Power Station_The old turbine still in place to preserve the historical value of the site
Lower Lake Margaret Power Station_The new turgo turbine in place