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Eildon Dam Museum

Name: Eildon Dam Museum
Address: 3 Utah Place, Eildon, VIC, 3713, AU
Telephone: 0357742667
Price range: Not Applicable

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Eildon Dam Museum

NEW MUSEUM TOUR BOOKINGS PH. NUMBER 1300 995 122 Please share your photos and stories of your experiences in Eildon.

Any donations of artifacts, photos etc would be appreciated Stories from early residents or workers on the Dams would be great.

02/09/2026

The hydro electric power house at the Pondage release gates.

The pondage holds 5,200 megalitres of water.
Its main job was to catch sudden surges of water from the large hydro station.

This controlled release protected the Goulburn River from fast-flowing floods while supplying farms downstream.

Construction of the Power House (1990s)
Local water authorities and power companies planned a new small plant at the release gates to capture wasted energy.

Construction on the small power house began in 1994.
The project cost 14 million Australian dollars.
The 4.5 MW single turbo-generator opened in 1995.
It began producing renewable electricity by reusing water already destined for the river.

How It Works Today
Water flows from the large 135 MW Eildon Power Station into the pondage.
The pondage power house runs a single turbine using this moving water before it enters the Goulburn River.
The site is owned and operated by Pacific Blue.
The area is also popular for trout fishing and recreation.

01/09/2026

Major Eildon Hydro Expansion with New Turbines (1951–1955).

Enlargement:
Work began in 1951 to vastly enlarge the storage dam into what is now Lake Eildon, completed in 1955.

Francis Turbines:
The powerhouse was rebuilt with two large 60 MW Francis turbines, increasing capacity to 120 MW.

Relocation of Old Units:
Some smaller original turbines from the old Sugarloaf station were preserved, relocated, and later recommissioned to handle low-flow and minimum river release conditions.

31/08/2026

The original Sugarloaf Reservoir hydroelectric project.

On the Goulburn River (which later became Lake Eildon) was built between 1915 and 1929 as part of the early Rubicon Hydro electric scheme.

1915–1929: Construction took place on the original Sugarloaf Reservoir and dam, which submerged the old gold-rush township of Darlingford.

March 1929: The Sugarloaf Hydroelectric Power Station officially opened (on 20 March 1929 by Premier Sir William McPherson), featuring a 4-megawatt capacity that later expanded to 13.5 megawatts.

Operation: The station generated electricity seasonally from October to April using irrigation releases sent down the Goulburn River.

1951–1955 (The Big Eildon Project): The dam was massively enlarged to hold six times the water of Sydney Harbour to secure irrigation for the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District. The original power station was replaced by a larger plant at the new Eildon dam site, and the reservoir was renamed Lake Eildon.

30/08/2026

The Rubicon Hotel Motel in Thornton.

First established and licensed in 1868.

Key Historical Milestones

1868:
The original hotel was first licensed, serving as a vital stopover and community hub nestled between the Goulburn and Rubicon Rivers.

Late 19th & Early 20th Century:
Known historically as H. Baker's Rubicon Hotel during the 1890s and 1900s, it supported local pioneering industries, horse-drawn supply wagons heading to Eildon, and early timber and steam train operations in the region.

1921: The Allen brothers took over management of the hotel.

1962: After a devastating fire razed the original 19th-century building, the present-day hotel structure was rebuilt on the exact same site.

Today, the family-owned and operated country hotel functions as a modern motel and recreational base for visitors exploring Victoria's High Country, Lake Eildon, and the surrounding rivers.

29/08/2026

AUGUST 1909 UPPER GOULBURN BRIDGE DESTROYED.

The 1890 Timber Bridge:
The original crossing was a wooden bridge constructed by local builder Thomas Carison in 1890. It served a rugged pioneer community of early settlers, timber workers, and gold miners located roughly 7 kilometers east of the main Thornton township.

The 1909 Floods.
In August 1909, Victoria was hit by some of the most devastating floods in its recorded history. The deluge wrecked bridges and infrastructure across the state. To restore basic communication after seasonal floods made the upper river reaches impassable, a rudimentary, utilitarian double-rope suspension crossing was rigged in 1910 as a temporary lifeline for foot traffic.

The 1914 Monash Bridge.
To provide a permanent solution, a reinforced concrete T-girder bridge was designed by renowned engineer Sir John Monash and built in 1914.

The 1916 Destruction:
This new engineering feat was short-lived. In September 1916, another massive flood swept down the Goulburn River system, completely destroying the two-year-old Monash bridge.

The original settlement of Upper Thornton including its old school, public hall, post office, and original crossing sites—is largely submerged beneath the waters of the Eildon Pondage, which was developed as part of twentieth-century water storage infrastructure.

28/08/2026

The "Death or Glory Boys" camping at Snobs Creek 1914

Historically the 17th Lancers (later amalgamated into the Queen's Royal Lancers and then The Royal Lancers)—entered the First World War in 1914 with a legendary cavalry legacy.

Outbreak of War in 1914
Stationed in India:
When World War I began in August 1914, the 17th Lancers were stationed in Sialkot, India.

Deployment to France:
The regiment received orders to return to Europe, arriving in France in November 1914 to join the British Expeditionary Force.

The Western Front:
They immediately transitioned to active service on the Western Front, experiencing the brutal realities of trench warfare alongside traditional cavalry roles.

Early Engagement:
They fought in early engagements including the Battle of Festubert in late 1914.

Origins of the Nickname and Badge
The Motto: Their famous nickname derives from their distinctive cap badge featuring a skull and crossbones above the motto "Or Glory" (originally "Death or Glory"), adopted in memory of General James Wolfe.

Evolution:
Though cavalry faced massive technological shifts in 1914, the regiment carried its fierce reputation from 18th-century origins and the Charge of the Light Brigade into the industrial warfare of the 20th century.

There were no official "Death or Glory" cavalry regiments (the famous British 17th Lancers, known by that moniker) native to Australia in 1914, but individual Australians serving in the British Army may have fought in units associated with that military tradition. These lads pictured were either wannabes, about to enlist or just enamored with the history and name.

27/08/2026

Murray Cod in Lake Eildon — a remarkable story.

Murray cod are one of Australia’s iconic native freshwater fish, and today Lake Eildon is regarded as one of Victoria’s premier Murray cod fisheries.

The story really took off with the development of native fish stocking programs. Since 1990, around 5.5 million Murray cod fingerlings have been stocked into Lake Eildon. The large-scale stocking program transformed the lake into a renowned recreational cod fishery.

One of the biggest boosts came between 2010 and 2013, when an extra one million Murray cod were released into Lake Eildon. The project was funded through recreational fishing licence fees, with more than 333,000 fingerlings released each season.

The results have been impressive. A 2019 fisheries survey found 380 Murray cod, ranging from tiny newly stocked fish to enormous specimens measuring 123 cm and weighing more than 32 kg (70 lb). Seven fish caught during the survey were over one metre long.

In 2017, Lake Eildon became Victoria’s first year-round Murray cod recreational fishery, when the normal September–November closed season was removed for the lake.

Today, the Murray cod has become one of the biggest reasons anglers travel to Lake Eildon — with the chance of landing a fish over a metre making the lake famous well beyond Victoria.

Show us your over 1 metre long Murray cod caught in lake Eildon Victoria.

26/08/2026

The Alexandra Butter Factory.

Originally built in 1892 by local entrepreneur William Nicholson to support regional dairy farmers and process milk and cream from across the Murrindindi Shire.

Around 1914, the factory was an active regional hub for the local dairy trade, operating alongside the area's rail links to send dairy produce to wider markets.

1891–1892: Local newspaper articles highlighted the need for a dedicated local facility, leading William Nicholson to construct the initial timber factory building.

Pre-WWI (Around 1912–1914): The factory was technologically active for its time; historical records note its engineering plant even assisted with local electrical advancements and lighting initiatives in Alexandra. Farmers delivered cream via local transport and trains (such as via Cathkin station), often having fresh butter or earnings returned.

1930s: The original timber building was pulled down and replaced by the solid redbrick structure with a gabled roof that still stands today.

Later Uses: After its dairy days ended, the building served various industrial purposes over the decades, including a sawmill, an upholstery workshop, a metal machining space, and storage.
Modern Era: The historic building was lovingly restored and repurposed as the home of On Point Brewery, a local craft brewery.

25/08/2026

Spring Creek hermit Mr. Coyle.

Mr. Coyle was a known local hermit who lived in the bush at Spring Creek, near Alexandra, Victoria, between approximately 1910 and 1930.
Identity:
Details on his full name or life prior to his time at Spring Creek are largely lost to history, as he lived a solitary life on the edges of society.
Lifestyle:
He lived in a makeshift hut constructed of timber slabs, stakes, and branches in the bushland. Like many hermits of that era—often men who did not easily reintegrate after periods of hardship or war. He survived without government assistance in a rugged environment.
Photographic Record:
He is best remembered today because photographer Lindsay G. Cu***ng (1894–1979), who operated a studio and bicycle shop in Alexandra's main street, captured a glass negative portrait of Mr. Coyle and his makeshift dwelling.

24/08/2026

The 1910 double-rope river crossing at Upper Thornton.

Was a rudimentary, utilitarian suspension lifeline rigged across the Goulburn River to maintain foot communication for early settlers, miners, and timber workers when seasonal floods made the upper reaches impassable.

Historical Context of Upper Thornton.

The Settlement:

Upper Thornton lay roughly 7 kilometres east of the main Thornton township along the route toward Eildon, servicing a small, rugged pocket of pioneer farms, local sawmills, and forestry tracks.

The Crossing Need:

Before major twentieth-century engineering—such as the construction of the Eildon Weir infrastructure—bridging minor rural streams and river bends relied on local ingenuity. High winter and spring water levels on the Goulburn cut off children from the Upper Thornton school and isolated homesteads.

The Double-Rope Method:

Improvised double-rope configurations (one lower line for footing and an upper line for hand stability) were commonly erected at dangerous pinch-points or deep river sections to allow locals to pull themselves or supplies across the churning current safely.

Address

3 Utah Place
Eildon, VIC
3713

Telephone

0357742667

Website

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