{{Short description|Dam, reservoir, and power station in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Other uses|Lake Arthur (disambiguation){{!}}Lake Arthur|Arthur Lake (disambiguation){{!}}Arthur Lake}} {{Infobox dam | name = Arthurs Lake Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = 240 | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|-42.0315552|146.921143|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = 1965 | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = Lake River | dam_height = {{cvt|17|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|482|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|113|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Controlled and uncontrolled]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|43|m3/s}} | res_name = [[Arthurs Lake (Tasmania)|Arthurs Lake]] | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|511390|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|259|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|645.9|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|947|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Tods Corner Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|41|57|00|S|146|46|48|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | plant_commission = {{start date|df=y|1966|01|01}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = P | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|41|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|1.7|MW}}<br/>{{small|(Maier [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]])}} | plant_capacity = {{cvt|1.7|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|8|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/great-lake-south-esk-0/tods-corner|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }} The '''Arthurs Lake Dam''' is a rock-filled [[embankment dam]] across the Lake River, located between the small settlements of [[Wilburville]] and [[Morass Bay]], in the [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1965, the resultant [[reservoir]], [[Arthurs Lake (Tasmania)|Arthurs Lake]],{{efn|Sometimes spelled as ''Arthur's Lake''.}} was established for the purpose of generating [[hydro-electricity|hydro-electric power]] via the '''Tods Corner Power Station''', the only [[Pumped-storage hydroelectricity|pumped-storage]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energystorageexchange.org/projects/884.pdf |title=Tods Corner Power Station |work=DOE Energy Storage Database |publisher=Sandia National Laboratories |date=30 November 2013 |accessdate=6 July 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Knight, Anne-Louise |url=https://ieefa.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/Filling%20the%20voids_Aug24_2.pdf |title= Filling the voids: Pumped hydro proposals could see taxpayers financing mine rehabilitation |work= |publisher=Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis |date=August 2024 |access-date=2026-04-29 |page=32 }}</ref> [[hydroelectric]] [[power station]]s located in Tasmania. The dam and power station are part of the [[Great Lake (Tasmania)|Great Lake]] and [[South Esk River|South Esk]] catchment.
The dam, reservoir and power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].
== Dam and reservoir overview == === Dam === The [[rock-filled dam]] wall is {{convert|17|m}} high and {{convert|482|m}} long. When full, Lake Burbury has capacity of {{convert|511390|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|6459|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|259|km2}}. The single [[spillway#Types|controlled and uncontrolled spillway]] is capable of discharging {{convert|43|m3/s}}.<ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=2026-03-05 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=[[ANCOLD]] |format=[[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. Requires download. Row 11}}</ref>
=== Reservoir === [[File:Arthurs Lake.jpg|thumb|left|The lake in 2017]] Arthurs Lake is located in the Central Highlands, north of [[Lyell Highway]], east of [[Great Lake (Tasmania)|Great Lake]].<ref>{{Citation |author1=Felton, Heather |title=Ticklebelly tales and other stories from the people of the Hydro |year=2008 |publication-date=2008 |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |isbn=978-0-646-47724-4 |page=32}}</ref> Europeans discovered the lake in 1825. [[John Helder Wedge]], an explorer and surveyor in Colonial [[Van Dieman's Land]], was sent to find the source of the Lake River, which he found at Arthurs Lake.<ref>{{cite blog |author=McCormack, Dane |url=https://www.bizcatalyst360.com/history-of-the-central-highlands-of-tasmania/7/ |title={{Title case|HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF TASMANIA}} |work= |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-30 |via=bizcatalyst360.com }}</ref> Arthurs Lake was created in the 1920s by flooding the upper Lake River, two existing [[natural lake]]s, Blue Lake and Sand Lake, and an area of [[marsh]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12382432 |title=Arthur's Lakes Dam |work=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart |date=1919-11-20 |access-date=2026-04-30 |page=3 |via=Trove. [[National Library of Australia]] }}</ref> The lake was named in honour of [[Arthur Cotton|General Sir Arthur Cotton]],<ref name=FH/> a British army officer and [[irrigation]] engineer.
Water is pumped from Arthurs Lake to Great Lake, which feeds the [[Poatina Power Station]]. Some of the pumping energy is recovered by the Tods Corner Power Station.<ref name=ANCOLD/> In 2017, Irrigation Tasmania installed a floating safety barrier to prevent fishing boats accessing the hydro intake pipe in this very popular fishing lake.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24248755 |title=ANGLING. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tas. |date=29 November 1928 |accessdate=10 July 2012 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26171155 |title=ANGLERS AT ARTHURS LAKE. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tas. |date=19 February 1946 |accessdate=10 July 2012 |page=15 |via=Trove. [[National Library of Australia]]}}</ref><ref name=FH>{{cite web |url=https://www.fultonhogan.com/keyprojects/arthurs-lake-hydro/ |title=Arthurs Lake Hydro |work=Fulton Hogan |date=2018 |access-date=2026-04-30 }}</ref><ref name=ifsbrochure>{{cite web|url=https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/media/publications/Arthur_River_A4_Fact_Sheet.pdf|title=Arthurs Lake Anglers Access|publisher=Inland Fisheries Services|accessdate=1 May 2023}}</ref>
The reservoir is stocked with [[brown trout]] and is a popular [[fly fishing]] location for anglers visiting Tasmania.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.trouttalestasmania.com.au/locations/fly-fishing-at-arthurs-lake-in-tasmania |title=Fly Fishing at Arthurs Lake in Tasmania |work=Trout Tales Tasmania |date=n.d. |access-date=2025-06-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/fisheries/waters-a-z/arthurs-lake/ |title=Arthurs Lake |work=Inland Fisheries Service |publisher=[[Tasmanian Government]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-30 }}</ref>
== Hydroelectric power station == [[File:Hydro Tasmania floating safety barrier.jpg|alt=Floating Safety Barrier|thumb|left|Preventing fishing boat access to the Hydro intake pipe area]] Located in the Great Lake and South Esk catchment area, the Tods Corner Power Station was developed to recover the available energy from the water out of the Arthurs Lake Pumping Station. In order to increase the size of the reservoir at the Great Lake, and increase the water available to the [[Waddamana Power Stations]],{{efn|Waddamana A was decommissioned in 1965; and Waddamana B was decommissioned in 1995.}} Arthurs Lake was created in the 1920s with the damming of several creeks and water was pumped from it into the Great Lake as required by the station. With the construction of the much larger Poatina Power Station in 1966 to replace Waddamana, Tods Corner was added to recover some of the energy used by the pump systems. The power station is located on the south-eastern shore of Great Lake, below the dam wall, and is supplied with water via a {{convert|105|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} [[penstock]] connected to an open flume which carries the discharge from Arthurs Lake Pumping Station.<ref name=fact>{{cite web |url=https://bravenewclimate.com/files/system/files/documents/ps_factsheets/todscorner_power_station-fact-sheets.pdf |title=Tods Corner Power Station |work=Greak (sic) Lake - South Esk Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-30 |via=bravenewclimate.com }}</ref>
Commissioned in 1966 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation]], the station has a single Maier [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]] [[water turbine|turbine]] with capacity of {{convert|1.7|MW}} coupled to a [[Siemens]] induction generator.<ref name=fact/> The station output, estimated at {{convert|8|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid at its output voltage of 6.6 k[[Voltage|V]] via a circuit breaker located in the exterior switchyard.<ref name=fact/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821083524/https://engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/eha-magazine-v1-6.pdf |title=The Hydro after 100 Years |work=[[EHA Magazine]] |date=March 2015 |page=19 |access-date= }}</ref>
== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy|Australia|Water}}}} * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]] * [[List of reservoirs and dams in Australia#Tasmania|List of reservoirs and dams in Tasmania]] * [[List of lakes of Australia#Tasmania|List of lakes in Tasmania]]
== Notes == {{noteslist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/78802/9.-Hydro-Tasmania.pdf |title=Hydro Tasmania submission: Appendix 1: Great Lake - South Esk power scheme |work=Joint Select Committee on Energy Matters in Tasmania |via=[[Tasmanian Parliament]] |page=20 |date=February 2024 |access-date=2026-04-29 |format=includes schematic / diagram of the scheme }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/tabled-papers/2015/HATP21_29_10_2015.pdf |title=Annual Report 2015 |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |via=[[Tasmanian Parliament]] |page=10 |date=2015-10-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |format=includes schematic / diagram of hydro facilities in Tasmania }} * {{cite image |url=https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/tods-corner-power-station-after-several-days-of-rain-and-news-photo/528118532 |title=Snow Fall In Great Lake Area Brings Much Needed Water To Tasmania's Dams |author=Holden, Heath |work=[[Getty Images]] |date=2016-05-04 |access-date=2026-04-30 |format=Image: 3000x2000 px; 300 dpi; 4 MB }}
{{CentralHighlandsTasmania}} {{Dams in Tasmania}} {{EnergyTasmania}} {{Lakes of Tasmania}}
[[Category:1965 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Central Highlands (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1965]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1966]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in Australia]] [[Category:Reservoirs in Tasmania]] [[Category:Rock-filled dams]]