{{Short description|Dam and power station in north-western Tasmania}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Wilmot Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = | 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|-41.470266|146.072454|type:landmark_region:AU-TAS|display=inline,title|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[North West Tasmania|Northern]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = {{start date|1970}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = Wilmot River | dam_height = {{cvt|34|m}} | dam_height_foundation = | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|138|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|122|e3m3|abbr=on}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Uncontrolled]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|1104|m3/s}} | res_name = Lake Gairdner | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|8820|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive = | res_catchment = {{cvt|158|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|970|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Wilmot Power Station | plant_coordinates = | plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania | plant_commission = {{start date|1971}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = R | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|241|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|32|MW}}<br />[[Fuji Heavy Industries|Fuji]] [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]] | plant_capacity = {{cvt|32|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor = 0.9 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|137|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }}

The '''Wilmot Dam''' is a concrete-faced rock-fill [[embankment dam]] across the Wilmot River, located near {{TAScity|Wilmot}}, in [[North West Tasmania|northern]] [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1970, the resultant [[reservoir]], Lake Gairdner, was established for the purpose of generation of [[hydroelectricity]] via the adjacent '''Wilmot Power Station''', a [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric [[power station]].

The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].

== Dam and reservoir overview == The concrete-face [[rockfill dam]] wall is {{convert|34|m}} high and {{convert|138|m}} long. When full, Lake Gairdner has capacity of {{convert|8820|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|970|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|158|km2}}. The [[Spillway#Types|uncontrolled spillway]] has a flow capacity of {{convert|1104|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 546}}</ref>

In 2013, Hydro Tasmania reported that, downstream of the dam wall, reduced or no flows in the Wilmot River were attributed to both the damming of the river and the diversion of water into the [[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth River]] catchment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/mersey-forth_fact_sheet_wilmot_river_condition.pdf |title=Fact Sheet: Wilmot River Condition Assessment Study |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=November 2013 |access-date=2026-04-23 }}</ref>

== Hydroelectric power station == The Wilmot Power Station is part of the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey]]{{endash}}[[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth]] hydro scheme that comprises seven [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-river]] hydroelectric power stations and one [[mini-hydro]] power station. The Wilmot Power Station is the fifth station in the scheme, located above-ground on the foreshore of Lake Cethana, formed via the [[Cethana Dam]]. Water stored at Lake Gairdner is transferred east approximately {{convert|4.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the station via a tunnel and a surface [[penstock]]. Water is then discharged from the station into Lake Cethana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Mersey - Forth |work=Energy |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |accessdate=3 July 2015}}</ref>

The power station was commissioned in 1971 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]]. It has one [[Water turbine|turbine]], with a generating capacity of {{convert|32|MW}} of electricity. The station output, estimated to be {{convert|137|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via an 11&nbsp;k[[voltage|V]]/220&nbsp;kV [[Siemens]] generator transformer to the outdoor switchyard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Wilmot_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |title=Wilmot Power Station: Technical fact sheet |work=Mersey-Forth Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |accessdate=3 July 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033555/http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Wilmot_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |url-status=dead }}</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 run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{cite web |url=https://ehq-production-australia.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/406656dec6af0608c977d3e77abfcb9e4e69a62c/original/1692052303/9744fab4619a0bc34fca1bf90ce6236d_230278_Hydro_Cethana_Community_Info_Sheet_spreads.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4KKNQAKIII4DU7AG%2F20260423%2Fap-southeast-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260423T024125Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=a35b31b927add7cc23a85701711be453de3749c7b97ff7808b6a2735f1bb07c8 |title=Cethana pumped hydro energy storage – Project Update |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=July 2023 |access-date=2026-04-23 }} * {{cite web |url=https://northwesttasmania.com.au/things-to-do/lake-gairdner/ |title=Lake Gairdner |work=North West Tasmania |publisher=West X North West |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-23 }}

{{Dams in Tasmania}} {{EnergyTasmania}}

[[Category:1970 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Concrete-face rock-fill dams]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1970]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1971]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Northern Tasmania]] [[Category:Run-of-the-river power stations]]