A collection of films from the National Archives of Australia – spanning 25 years of the project – tells the story of the monumental Snowy Hydro Scheme.

The Snowy Hydro Scheme is arguably Australia’s greatest engineering project. With its 7 power stations, 16 major dams, pumping station, 145 km of interconnected tunnels and 80 km of aqueducts, it covered an operating area of 5,124 sq kms in the Southern Alps. The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority film unit, led by cinematographer Harry Malcolm, documented the Scheme from construction to completion, partly as a record of progress but also to sell the massive, government-funded project to the general public.

As well as an engineering achievement, the Snowy Hydro Scheme had a broader impact on Australian society and landscape. An estimated 60,000 European migrants – many of whom had been on opposing sides during the recent Second World War – arrived to help build it. Whole towns were re-located – including Jindabyne and Adaminaby. One of the ABC’s earliest documentaries – A Town to be Drowned (1958) – records the end of old Adminaby. Other titles made by the SMHEA film unit concern worker safety, environmental issues and beautification of the landscape.

Celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the start of work have been organised by the Snowy Scheme Association and run until 22 October in Cooma. The Snowy Hydro Association is screening historical films in the coaches that bring visitors into the region for the anniversary activities. You can see a range of SMHEA film unit titles on the Snowy Hydro Collection page.