# Mackintosh Dam

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Dam and power station in Tasmania, Australia

Dam in Western Tasmania

Mackintosh Dam Interactive map of Mackintosh Dam Country Australia Location Western Tasmania Coordinates 41°41′57″S 145°38′52″E / 41.699112°S 145.647769°E / -41.699112; 145.647769 Purpose Power Status Operational Opening date 1981 (1981) Owner Hydro Tasmania Dam and spillways Type of dam Rock-fill dam Impounds Mackintosh River Height 75 m (246 ft) Length 465 m (1,526 ft) Dam volume 927×10^3 m3 (32.7×10^6 cu ft) Spillways 1 Spillway type Uncontrolled Spillway capacity 1,021 m3/s (36,100 cu ft/s) Reservoir Creates Lake Mackintosh Total capacity 913.69 GL (740,740 acre⋅ft) Catchment area 512 km2 (198 sq mi) Surface area 276.1 ha (682 acres) Maximum length 17.5 km (10.9 mi) Maximum width 3.5 km (2.2 mi) Maximum water depth 60 m (200 ft) Normal elevation 210 to 230 m (690 to 750 ft) AHD Mackintosh Power Station Coordinates 41°41′24″S 145°38′24″E / 41.69000°S 145.64000°E / -41.69000; 145.64000 Operator Hydro Tasmania Commission date 1982 (1982) Type Conventional Hydraulic head 61 m (200 ft) Turbines 1 x 81 MW (109,000 hp) Fuji Francis-type Installed capacity 81 MW (109,000 hp) Capacity factor 0.85 Annual generation 394 GWh (1,420 TJ) Website hydro.com.au [1][2]

The **Mackintosh Dam** is a concrete-faced rock-fill [embankment dam](/source/Embankment_dam) across the [Mackintosh River](/source/Mackintosh_River), located in [Western Tasmania](/source/Western_Tasmania), Australia. Located not far from the main dam is the **Tullabardine Dam**, a [saddle dam](/source/Dam#Types) across the Tullabardine Creek. Both dams were completed in 1981 and together they formed the resultant [reservoir](/source/Reservoir), [Lake Mackintosh](/source/Lake_Mackintosh), established for the purpose of generating [hydroelectricity](/source/Hydroelectricity) via the **Mackintosh Power Station**, a [conventional](/source/Hydroelectricity#Conventional_(dams)) hydroelectric [power station](/source/Power_station).

The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [Hydro Tasmania](/source/Hydro_Tasmania).

## Dam and reservoir overview

### The two dams

The concrete-faced [rock-filled dam](/source/Rock-filled_dam) wall of the Mackintosh Dam is 75 metres (246 ft) high and 465 metres (1,526 ft) long. When full, Lake Burbury has capacity of 913.69 [gigalitres](/source/Gigalitre) (740,740 [acre⋅ft](/source/Acre-foot)) and covers 276.1 hectares (682 acres), drawn from a [catchment area](/source/Drainage_basin) of 512 square kilometres (198 sq mi). The single [uncontrolled spillway](/source/Spillway#Types) is capable of discharging 1,021 cubic metres per second (36,100 cu ft/s).[1]

The saddle dam, the Tullabardine Dam, is also a concrete-faced rock-filled dam that is 25 metres (82 ft) high and 214 metres (702 ft) long, located at [41°41′02″S 145°39′11″E / 41.683794°S 145.652983°E / -41.683794; 145.652983](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Mackintosh_Dam&params=41.683794_S_145.652983_E_region:AU-TAS_type:landmark).[3]

### Reservoir

The reservoir, Lake Mackintosh, runs north–south past Mount Farrell, adjacent to the town of [Tullah](/source/Tullah%2C_Tasmania). The reservoir is 17.5 kilometres (10.9 mi) long, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) wide, and the shore is approximately 83 kilometres (52 mi) in circumference. The reservoir has three large islands and five small [islets](/source/Islet).[2] The reservoir is fed by the Mackintosh, [Sophia](/source/Sophia_River), Fury, Southwell, and Brougham rivers and the Mackintosh and Tullabardine creeks. The reservoir's outflow feeds the Mackintosh Power Station through [Lake Rosebery](/source/Lake_Rosebery_(Tasmania)).[4] The [Murchison River](/source/Murchison_River_(Tasmania)) feeds into Lake Mackintosh through the [Murchison Dam](/source/Murchison_Dam), to the south. The reservoir's deepest point is approximately 60 metres (200 ft) deep at the base of the main dam. It is one of the larger sized water impoundments of the Pieman power scheme.[5]

The main basin of the reservoir was originally a [Button Grass](/source/Gymnoschoenus_sphaerocephalus) swamp prior to inundation. The [Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park](/source/Cradle_Mountain-Lake_St_Clair_National_Park) as a component part of the [Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area](/source/Tasmanian_Wilderness_World_Heritage_Area), has its western boundary lying to the east of the lake shores. The [Murchison Highway](/source/Murchison_Highway) borders the reservoir to the west.

## Hydroelectric power station

Part of the [Pieman River](/source/Pieman_River) scheme that comprises four hydroelectric power stations, the Mackintosh Power Station is the second station in the scheme. The power station is located aboveground at the foot of the dam wall. Water from Lake Mackintosh is fed to the power station by a 200-metre-long (660 ft) single tunnel.[6]

The power station was commissioned in 1982 by the [Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)](/source/Hydro_Tasmania) and the station has one [Fuji](/source/Fuji_Heavy_Industries) [Francis-type](/source/Francis_turbine) [turbine](/source/Water_turbine), with a generating capacity of 81 megawatts (109,000 hp) of electricity. The station output, estimated to be 394 [gigawatt-hours](/source/Kilowatt-hour) (1,420 [TJ](/source/Terajoule)) annually,[1] is fed to [TasNetworks](/source/TasNetworks)' transmission grid via a 13.8 k[V](/source/Voltage)/220 kV Fuji generator transformer to the outdoor switchyard.[7]

The water discharged from Mackintosh Power Station flows into [Lake Rosebery](/source/Bastyan_Dam#Reservoir) for use in the [Bastyan Power Station](/source/Bastyan_Dam#Hydroelectric_power_station).[6]

## See also

- [Renewable energy portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Renewable_energy)
- [Australia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Australia)
- [Water portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Water)

- [List of power stations in Tasmania](/source/List_of_power_stations_in_Tasmania)

- [List of reservoirs and dams in Australia § Tasmania](/source/List_of_reservoirs_and_dams_in_Australia#Tasmania)

- [List of lakes of Australia § Tasmania](/source/List_of_lakes_of_Australia#Tasmania)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ANCOLD_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ANCOLD_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ANCOLD_1-2) ["Register of Large Dams Australia-2015"](https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/) ([Excel](/source/Microsoft_Excel). Requires download. Row 322). *[ANCOLD](/source/ANCOLD)*. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bonzle-LakeM_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bonzle-LakeM_2-1) ["Map of Lake Mackintosh, TAS"](http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=168380&cmd=sp). *Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia*. n.d. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ANCOLD-T_3-0)** ["Register of Large Dams Australia-2015"](https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/) ([Excel](/source/Microsoft_Excel). Requires download. Row 509). *[ANCOLD](/source/ANCOLD)*. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Lake Mackintosh"](http://www.discovertasmania.com/attraction/lakemackintosh). *Discover Tasmania*. 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and Surrounding Land Use 2007"](https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20100309063300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/118182/20100309-1733/www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/strategy/pubs/tas-state-party-report-att-e.pdf) (PDF) (Map). *Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts*. Commonwealth of Australia. 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/strategy/pubs/tas-state-party-report-att-e.pdf) (PDF) on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hydro_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hydro_6-1) ["Our power stations | Pieman | Energy"](http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/pieman). *[Hydro Tasmania](/source/Hydro_Tasmania)*. Retrieved 4 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Mackintosh Power Station: Technical fact sheet"](https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/mackintosh-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=9bcc9b28_2) (PDF). *Pieman Catchment*. [Hydro Tasmania](/source/Hydro_Tasmania). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230618034418/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/mackintosh-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=9bcc9b28_2) (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.

## Further reading

- ["Pieman Sustainability Review: Information review of the Anthony-Pieman hydropower scheme"](https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/environment-page/pieman-sustainability-review/pieman-sustainability-review-full-report.pdf?sfvrsn=85a1e328_0) (PDF). [Hydro Tasmania](/source/Hydro_Tasmania). February 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230618034627/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/environment-page/pieman-sustainability-review/pieman-sustainability-review-full-report.pdf?sfvrsn=85a1e328_0) (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.

v t e Dams and reservoirs in Tasmania, Australia Central Highlands Arthurs Lake Catagunya Clark Cluny Lake Binney Lake Echo Liapootah Meadowbank Miena Pine Tier Repulse Wayatinah King Island Upper Grassy North East Briseis Cascade Clarence Curries River Duck Reach Weir Frome Monarch Mount Paris North West Guide River Henty Pet River White Spur Northern Augusta Cethana Devils Gate Ford Mackenzie Meander Paloona Parangana Rowallan Taylor No. 3 Trevally Wilmot South Craigbourne Flagstaff Gully Hall No. 2 Knights Creek Limekiln Gully Lower Reservoir Ridgeway Rileys Creek Risdon Brook Stanton South West Edgar Gordon Laughing Jack Scotts Peak Serpentine Western Anthony and levee Bastyan and levee Crotty Darwin Mackintosh Tullabardine Margaret Murchison Newton Reece Decommissioned Tolosa Park Category | List

v t e Energy in Tasmania Hydroelectric Derwent Butlers Gorge Catagunya Cluny Lake Echo Liapootah Meadowbank Nieterana Repulse Tarraleah Tungatinah Wayatinah Gordon-Pedder Gordon Franklin Dam controversy Mersey-Forth Cethana Devils Gate Fisher Lemonthyme Paloona Parangana Rowallan Wilmot West Coast King John Butters Lake Margaret Pieman / Anthony Bastyan Mackintosh Reece Tribute Yingina / Great Lake Poatina Tods Corner Trevallyn Others Huntsman Decommissioned Duck Reach Moorina Waddamana Waddamana B Wind farms Granville Harbour Musselroe Woolnorth Cattle Hill Huxley Hill (King Island) Natural gas Tamar Valley Decommissioned Bell Bay Organisations Alinta Aurora Powerco Hydro Tasmania Roaring 40s TasNetworks Former Transend Networks Interconnectors Basslink Planned Marinus Link Other Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator 2016 Tasmanian energy crisis List of power stations in Tasmania

v t e Lakes and other bodies of water in Tasmania, Australia Coastal lagoons and lakes Bronte Dulverton Jocks Orielton Little Waterhouse Freshwater Beatrice Dora Flannigan Meston St Clair Flooded Arthurs Brady Chain Binney Bradys Bronte Dee Echo Pine Tier Tungatinah Great King William Pedder Edgar Glacial Dove Selina Westwood Salt Fidler (Meromictic) Man-made reservoirs Barrington Burbury Catagunya Cethana Craigbourne Gairdner Gordon Henty Huntsman Liapootah Mackenzie Mackintosh Margaret Meadowbank Murchison Paloona Parangana Pieman Plimsoll Repulse Rowallan Rosebery Trevallyn Wayatinah Lakes portal

v t e Western region of Tasmania, Australia Cities and other settlements Queenstown Crotty Darwin Dundas Gormanston Guildford Linda Pillinger Regatta Point Rosebery Strahan Tullah Waratah Williamsford Zeehan Governance Braddon (federal) Braddon (state) Franklin Land District Montgomery Land District Montagu Land District West Coast Council Lyell Murchison Zeehan Mountains West Coast Range Black Darwin Dundas Heemskirk Huxley Jukes Lyell Murchison Owen Read Read Volcanics Sedgwick Sorell Strahan Zeehan Tyndall Geikie Tyndall Eldon Eldon Peak Engineer unnamed peak Raglan unnamed peak Sticht unnamed peak National parks Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Rivers Anne Anthony Franklin Gordon Henty King Lea Mackintosh Murchison Pieman Queen Sophia Lakes Beatrice Burbury Dora Gordon Mackintosh Murchison Pieman Rosebery Westwood Dams Anthony Crotty Darwin Gordon Henty Mackintosh Tullabardine Lake Margaret Murchison Reece Power stations Anthony Power Development Bastyan Gordon John Butters Lake Margaret Mackintosh Reece Tribute Transport Anthony Road Hercules Haulage Lyell Highway Murchison Highway Queenstown Airport Strahan Airport Railways Emu Bay Macquarie Heads breakwater Melba Mount Dundas-Zeehan North East Dundas North Mount Lyell Wee Georgie Wood West Coast Wilderness Zeehan-Strahan Railway stations and former railway stations Queenstown Zeehan Landmarks Natural Birchs Inlet Cape Sorell Darwin Crater Granville Harbour Hells Gates Iron Blow Kelly Basin Linda Valley Macquarie Harbour Montezuma Falls Nelson Falls Ocean Beach Trial Harbour Man-made Cape Sorell Lighthouse Gaiety Theatre Galley Museum Paragon Theatre Queenstown Oval People of note Convicts on the West Coast Crotty Davey Gould Joyce Long Moore Pearce Piguenit Piners Sticht Whitham Mining Comstock Mine Copper Mines Henty Gold Mine Mount Jukes Mine sites Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Company Mount Lyell Remediation and Research and Demonstration Program North Mount Lyell North Mount Lyell Disaster (1912) Renison Bell Stichtite West Coast Tasmania Mines Books and newspapers For the Term of His Natural Life Gould's Book of Fish The Peaks of Lyell West Coast Miner Zeehan & Dundas Herald Other Darwin glass The Unconformity Round Earth Theatre Company Tasmanian West bioregion Western Tasmanian Football Association Western Tasmanian languages

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mackintosh Dam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackintosh_Dam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackintosh_Dam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.