Things To See

The Gordon Dam, also known as the Gordon River Dam, is a major gated double curvature concrete arch dam with a controlled spillway across the Gordon River, located in South West Tasmania. The water flows from Lake Pedder into Lake Gordon through McPartlan Pass Canal.  The combination of Lake Gordon and Lake Pedder is the largest in Australia. 

The dam was constructed in 1974 by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS) for the purpose of generating hydro-electric power.

Lake Pedder was originally flooded as part of the Gordon power scheme. There was widespread opposition to this action from conservation groups at the time.  In 1995 a Federal parliamentary inquiry investigated the feasibility of restoring the original Lake Pedder. The inquiry found no compelling biological conservation or environment protection reasons to restore the original Lake Pedder.