Skip to main content

Home

Main navigation

  • Explore the collection
    • Search the collection: RecordSearch
      • What's in the collection
      • Defence and war service records
      • First Australians
      • Immigration and citizenship
      • Cabinet
      • Intelligence and security
      • Prime ministers
      • Search for people
      • Visit our other websites
      • #ArchivesAtHome
      • Stories from the archives
  • Help with your research
      • Getting started
      • What's in the collection
      • Using the collection
      • International movement records
      • Research centres
      • Research guides
      • Research grants and scholarships
      • Research agents
      • Ask us about the collection
  • Students and teachers
      • School visits
      • Learning resources
      • Competitions and special programs
  • Information management
      • Getting started
      • Building trust in the public record
      • Public release schedule
      • Ask for advice
      • Information governance
      • Build data interoperability
      • Check-up survey
      • Legislation
      • Manage information assets
      • GAIN Australia
      • Standards
      • Metadata
      • Records authorities
      • Learning and skills
      • Information Awareness Month 2023
  • Visit us
      • Events and exhibitions
      • Research centres
      • Our locations
      • Cafe Constitution
      • Venue hire
      • Contact us
  • About us
      • What we do
      • Support us
      • Employment
      • Who we are
      • Partnerships
      • Volunteer
      • Our services
      • Members
      • Media and publications
      • Contact us
  • Toggle search
  • Toggle menu

Offscreen Menu

Menu

MAIN MENU

  • Explore the collection
    • What's in the collection
    • Defence and war service records
    • First Australians
    • Immigration and citizenship
    • Cabinet
    • Intelligence and security
    • Prime ministers
    • Search for people
    • Visit our other websites
    • #ArchivesAtHome
    • Stories from the archives
  • Help with your research
    • Getting started
    • What's in the collection
    • Using the collection
    • International movement records
    • Research centres
    • Research guides
    • Research grants and scholarships
    • Research agents
    • Ask us about the collection
  • Students and teachers
    • School visits
    • Learning resources
    • Competitions and special programs
  • Information management
    • Getting started
    • Building trust in the public record
    • Public release schedule
    • Ask for advice
    • Information governance
    • Build data interoperability
    • Check-up survey
    • Legislation
    • Manage information assets
    • GAIN Australia
    • Standards
    • Metadata
    • Records authorities
    • Learning and skills
    • Information Awareness Month 2023
  • Visit us
    • Events and exhibitions
    • Research centres
    • Our locations
    • Cafe Constitution
    • Venue hire
    • Contact us
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Support us
    • Employment
    • Who we are
    • Partnerships
    • Volunteer
    • Our services
    • Members
    • Media and publications
    • Contact us

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.

Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.

A room with desk and chairs and cataloged books shelved on bookcases around the room.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Learning resource themes
  3. Science and technology
  4. Governor-General Sir William McKell launches construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme

Governor-General Sir William McKell launches construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme

Sir William McKell starts the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme by setting off a charge of dynamite.

Details

Learning resource record

Creator:

Department of Information

Date:

1949

Citation:

A1200, L12451

Keywords:

  • Ben Chifley
  • Governor-General
  • New South Wales
  • hydro-electricity

About this record

This is a 1949 photograph showing the Governor-General, Sir William McKell (1891–1985), officially starting the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme by pressing a plunger to set off a charge of dynamite. To the left of the Governor-General is the Prime Minister of the day, Ben Chifley (1885–1951), and to the right (partially obscured) is the first Commissioner of the Snowy Mountains Authority, Sir William Hudson (1896–1978). The ceremony is taking place on a special platform constructed beside the Eucumbene River, near Adaminaby in the Snowy Mountains. Flags are strung overhead and a few members of the public are visible in the background. On the table in front of the Governor-General is a plaque presented to him by the Prime Minister as a memento of the occasion.

Educational value

  • Shows the Governor-General symbolically beginning work on the Snowy Mountains Scheme by exploding the first charge of dynamite – this massive scheme diverted water from the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales through pipes and tunnels into a series of dams, for use in power generation and for irrigation in the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys.
  • Shows Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who was a major supporter of the scheme and saw it as opening huge possibilities for Australian farming and industry, while providing massive employment opportunities immediately after World War II.
  • Shows the first Commissioner of the Snowy Mountains Authority, Sir William Hudson – Prime Minister Chifley personally chose Hudson to head the construction of the scheme because of his practical approach to engineering and his vision, leadership, and people and project management skills.
  • Shows the formal fashions of the day – with the men wearing heavy, double-breasted suits; the women in two-piece suits, gloves and hats.
  • Shows that the main media presence in 1949 was radio, and that the microphones of the day were large and cumbersome.
  • Reveals that the occasion was considered important by the local people as there are locals in attendance and festive flags overhead – it is possible that at least some of these people came from Adaminaby; many residents of Adaminaby opposed the scheme, as their town and farms were soon to be flooded by Lake Eucumbene as part of the scheme and everyone was to be relocated.

Acknowledgments

Learning resource text © Education Services Australia Limited and the National Archives of Australia 2010.

Related themes

Theme

Swisse-born Walter Ritter, 25, technical director of In Melbourne Tonight.

Science and technology

Learn about Australian scientific research and technological innovation, including their importance for the challenges of the past, present and future.

Theme

Gough Whitlam - Addressing the National Press Club.

Prime ministers and politicians

Discover records about past prime ministers and politicians and the major events and policies of their governments.

Theme

Fuel-saving wind turbines under test, Rottnest Island, Western Australia.

Renewable energy

Australia’s first renewable energy initiative was the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric project. Some renewable energy projects have created conflict between the government and environmental groups.

Need help with your research?

Learn how to interpret primary sources, use our collection and more.

Get help

Acknowledgement of Country

National Archives of Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, their cultures and Elders past, present and emerging.

Connect with us

  • Facebook Facebook
  • Twitter Twitter
  • YouTube YouTube
  • Instagram Instagram

Subscribe to our newsletter

Site map

  • Contact us

    • +61 2 6212 3600
    • archives@naa.gov.au
    • ABN: 36 889 228 992
  • For researchers

    • RecordSearch
    • What's in the collection
    • Using the collection
    • Ask us a question about our records
    • Getting started with your research
    • Research guides
    • Grants and scholarships
    • Our other websites
  • For government

    • Agency Service Centre
    • Check-up survey
    • Building trust in the public record policy
    • Getting started with information management
    • Information governance
    • Records authorities

    For students & teachers

    • School programs
    • Plan a school visit
    • Competitions and special programs
    • Learning resources
  • Shop

    • Browse our products

    Visit us

    • Admission to the Archives is free
    • Events and exhibitions
    • Research centres
    • Our locations
  • About us

    • What we do
    • Our organisation
    • Our services
    • Our history
    • Partnerships
    • Work for us
National Archives of Australia
  • Privacy
  • Freedom of information
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
National Archives of Australia