How Do People Source Energy and Other Resources in the Outback?

Factsheet 25 – How do people source energy and other resources in the Outback? Australian Curriculum Links Quirky fact : Year Subject Curriculum Links Energy sources used 5 Geography ACHGK028 to generate electricity Science ACSHE083 include water, wind, 6 Science ACSSU219,ACSHE100 sun, gas diesel fuel, 7 Geography ACHGK039, ACHGK040 tidal energy, waves Science ACSHE121 and geothermal 8 Geography ACHGK050 energy. Science ACSSU155, ACSHE136 Background Information In 1891, the Bulloo Shire Council embarked on a project of During the following 20 years other major centres developed drilling an artesian bore to provide Thargomindah’s town power stations, most of which were small thermal, diesel water supply. The water pressure was so strong that by 1893 or gas engine driven plants. Up until the 1940s electricity it was decided to harness it as energy to drive a generating generation remained largely in the hands of local plant for the supply of electricity to the town. This formed government and private enterprise. However, during World the Thargomindah Hydro Electric Plant, a distinction that War II all domestic resources were diverted into essential would mark it as the first town in Australia to have a hydro services and the war effort, and afterwards all of the electricity plant and third in the world behind Paris and generating authorities needed to replace and expand their London to have street lighting generated by hydro power. generating equipment. The plant continued to supply electricity until 1951, when the The provision of electricity to rural areas became a major Capricornia Electricity Board installed a diesel plant, which focus of the Electricity Commission during the 1950s and still operates today. increasingly thereafter, supplies were delivered by large In the early 20th century, Queensland was characterised power stations located close to their power sources, with by isolated urban areas, separated by large distances, huge transmission networks. with the majority of townships on the coast and in the Indicative of its heritage, in 2002 as part of “Year of the southeast. Rural properties tended to be large and pastoral Outback” celebrations, Thargomindah implemented two service towns were small. At the turn of the century private state-of-the-art renewable energy schemes that would companies supplied power to Brisbane, Charters Towers and place the town at the forefront of Australia’s 21st century Rockhampton. power generation. Thargomindah Hydro Power Plant 100 Outback Queensland Education Handbook | Australian Curriculum Factsheets Inquiry Questions Subject Years Questions ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Geography 5 How did features of the environment, including Queensland Energy Museum bore water, influence places like Thargomindah? Source: Factsheets,Teacher resources, Activities 7/8 How was the Great Artesian Basin formed? Queensland Energy Museum Inc. Phone: (07) 3854 1266 Compare the Outback’s water resources, Email: [email protected] and the way they are managed, to those www.energymuseum.com.au/ of a different country. REFERENCES Science 5/6 What scientific understandings Department of Environment were used to generate electricity? www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/ search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_ 7/8 How do science understandings help people id=100318 make effective use of available energy sources? FURTHER INFORMATION Department of Environment and Heritage Protection Points of Interest www.ehp.qld.gov.au/sustainability/index. Hydro Power Plant html The Hydro Power Plant Display Shed is a replica of the original shed, which was built on the site. It houses a working Pelton Wheel, and a display of old equipment, which was originally used by the early pioneers of the region to create energy. Gilmour Street, Thargomindah QLD 4492 Cost: Free Entry Hours: Daily from 8.30am to 5.00pm with a working display everyday Phone: (07) 4655 3399 Email: [email protected] Website: www.thargotourism.com.au Leahy House, Thargomindah Burke and Wills Dig Tree, Cameron Corner, via Thargomindah 109 TA e W k v e i AUGATHELLA 40 e R ADAVALE 40 r 158 C o 187 Haddon r o INJUNE e l 109 p l o 84 91 Corner o u C 85 B 85 87 MORVEN 91 QUEENSLAND CHARLEVILLE 44 MITCHELL 22 QUILPIE 74 CHEEPIE 88 TREGOLE 69 NATIONAL MUNGALLALA 45 AMBY 37 PARK 65 ROMA EROMANGA 48 COOLADDI 99 74 167 161 209 e r v i 210 R WYANDRA 210 195 TOOMPINE n 36 180 o s l IG TREE 5 i 55 W 120 82 98 20 NOCCUNDRA 23 25 46 7 THARGOMINDAH YOWAH CUNNAMULLA Townsville191 13 177 BOLLON 113 ST GEOR Mt Isa 131 68 LAKE BINDEGOLLY EULO r r e 88 Rockhampton v 215 NATIONAL PARK e NINDIGULL Longreach i v 164 R i 122 119 DIRRANBANDI R e Charleville CURRAWINYA n o BRISBANE i NATIONAL o r 110 e b PARK a 66 HUNGERFORDP BARRINGUN N HEBEL MUNGINDI Outback Queensland Education Handbook | Australian Curriculum Factsheets 101.

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