Hydro Power Plant - QLD

Thargomindah was the first town in Australia, and third in the world, to produce hydro-electric power for street lighting by using the water pressure from the Artesian Basin. In 1891 drilling commenced on a bore to supply the town with water, and in 1893 a good supply was struck at a depth of 2650ft (808mtrs) with the water coming from the bore at a temperature of 84°C (182°F). The old bore was the source of energy for Australia's first hydro-electric scheme when in 1898 Thargomindah's street lights were powered by means of a 15 kilowatt generator coupled to a Pelton water turbine driven by the bore's natural water pressure. This method was in operation until 1951, when diesel generators were installed. The town has been connected to the East Coast Grid system since 1988.

All tours - Hydro, Old Hospital and Old Jail - are fully automated so you can visit at your own leisure, you just need to purchase a swipe card. These are available from the Thargomindah Visitor Information Centre. When you've finished all tours, drop your card into one of the card return boxes at each location or return to the Visitor Centre.

Also at this site, you can see close up a windmill and a decommissioned oil "donkey", similar to those that may be seen from the road as you head west through the oilfields.