In 1947 it was proposed to construct a dam on the Pretty Valley branch of the East Kiewa River. This was part of the initial planning in 1937. The Pretty Valley Reservoir was to be part of a pumped-storage scheme with a pumping station located immediately below the main structure. Preparatory work was commenced in 1946 with erection of staff accommodation. Between 1947 and 1950 the main camp was erected, access roads, constructed and banks and benches at the dam site undertaken. Following the financial crisis in 1951, a review of the scheme was carried out and work ceased in June 1951. Construction of the dam was deleted from the programme of works and all buildings removed.A pictorial history of part of the initial planning in 1937 for a dam to be constructed at Pretty Valley as part of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.7 small black and white photographs of Pretty ValleyAll photos have a circular stamp on the back with 'Print by Willson White Albury' enclosed. Photo 1 - on the back, handwritten in ink 'New 22Kv pump line - Pretty Valley Nov. 1948'. In pencil '18'. Photo 2 - On the back, handwritten in ink 'Pretty Valley - Staff mess on right Nov. 1948'. In pencil '18'. Photo 3 - On the back, handwritten in ink 'Pretty Valley Basin - looking S.E. Nov. 1948'. In pencil '5'. Photo 4 - On the back, handwritten in ink 'New pump 22Kv line, Pretty Valley - looking towards Mt. Mackie. Nov. 1948'. In pencil '5'. Photo 5 - On the back, handwritten in ink 'Pretty Valley. Mt. Cope just out of picture extreme right. Nov. 1948'. In pencil '78'. Photo 6 - on the back, handwritten in ink 'View from Pretty Valley Ruined Castle in Background Nov. 1948'. In pencil '78'. Photo 7 - on the back, handwritten in ink 'Pretty Valley Pump line (Nov. 1948)'. In pencil'78'.construct, dam, pretty valley

At the Pretty Valley Dam site erection of staff quarters was completed in April, 1947 and accommodation for workmen commenced in 1948 but suspended on 11th May for winter and resumed on 9th November. Construction of this camp was completed in 1949. A large dam was proposed at this site but was never constructed. Instead a small diversion dam was built which diverts water either to Rocky Valley Dam or to McKay Creek Power Station.An historical record of the type of accommodation provided for workmen during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Scheme during the 1940's/50'sBlack and white photograph of Pretty Valley camp showing workman's huts and construction materials.Handwritten on back of photograph in blue pen - Pretty Valleypretty valley, workmen's huts, victorian alps, secv

The Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme is the largest hydro-electric scheme in Victoria and the second largest in mainland Australia after the Snowy Mountains Scheme. The scheme is situated in the Australian Alps in north-eastern Victoria about 350 km from Melbourne and is wholly owned by AGL Energy. The scheme was originally constructed between 1938 and 1961 by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria although it was privatised in the 1990s. The scheme was originally developed solely for electricity generation, unlike the Snowy Mountains Scheme, which was also intended to direct water west of the Snowy Mountains for purposes of irrigation. From 1937 to 1944 the construction of dams at Pretty Valley, Rocky Valley and the Junction Dam were undertaken requiring large numbers of planning and support staff to see the projects successfully completed. Planning and support staff were the backbone of the successful completion of the Kiewa Valley Hydro Electric Scheme and contributed significantly to the development of the Kiewa Valley area. Many descendants of the men in the photographs still living and working in the local areaSet of 4 black and white photographs of SECV clerical staff – Circa 1940/1941Typed on note glued to back of each photo, Numbers handwritten in blue ink in top left hand corner 1. DRAWING OFFICE STAFF KIEWA C. 1940-41 Bob Morgan – Construction Draftsman; Duncan Kerr – Draftsman; Rob Hollands – Survey Draftsman; Arthur Keeble – Office Engineer; Bill Godfrey – Draftsman 2. CLERICAL OFFICE STAFF KIEWA Peter Harnetty – Clerical; Bert Connors – Clerical; John Martin – Stores Clerical; Ken Calder – Head Storekeeper; Bill black – Construction Records 3. CLERICAL OFFICE STAFF KIEWA Jack Norman, Herb Kendall, Jack Bray – Stores Clerical; Ken Calder – Head Storekeeper; Jim Swain, George Milner – Stores Clerical; Jim Gleeson – Storekeeper; John Martin – Stores Clerical 4. OFFICE STAFF KIEWA C. 1940 Don Faulkner – Cadet Engineer; Tas Davies – Survey Draftsman; Bob Morgan – Construction Darftsman; R.J. Martin, Arthur Keeble – Office Engineers; Rob Hollands – Survey Draftsman; Jack Wollard – Head Surveyor; Harry Wilson – Plan Officer. Printing Plans Handwritten in red ink on back of photo 4 – Refer Rob Hollands secv clerical staff

The Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme is the largest hydro-electric scheme in Victoria and the second largest in mainland Australia after the Snowy Mountains Scheme. The scheme is situated in the Australian Alps in north-eastern Victoria about 350 km from Melbourne and is wholly owned by AGL Energy. The scheme was originally constructed between 1938 and 1961 by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria although it was privatised in the 1990s. The scheme was originally developed solely for electricity generation, unlike the Snowy Mountains Scheme, which was also intended to direct water west of the Snowy Mountains for purposes of irrigation. From 1937 to 1944 the construction of dams at Pretty Valley, Rocky Valley and the Junction Dam were undertaken requiring large numbers of planning and support staff to see the projects successfully completed. Planning and support staff were the backbone of the successful completion of the Kiewa Valley Hydro Electric Scheme and contributed significantly to the development of the Kiewa Valley area. Many descendants of the original SECV workers are still living and working in the local areaBlack and white photograph of 2 men, one identified as Ray Esdaile at Mt Beauty SEC Camp in 1950Handwritten on back of photograph in blue ink: Ray Esdaile and self (unidentified) 1950 Mt Beauty Camp SECray esdaile, secv, mt beauty

Official photos - Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme constructed by State Electricity Commission of VictoriaOfficial photos of KHES in the Kiewa Valley1. Junction Dam Excavation - 5th April 1941 2. Bogong Residential Area Development - 24th April 1940 3. Beginning of Mt Beauty Township - 20th February 1947 4.Pretty Valley Bridge - 9th September 1940 5. Junction Dam - General View from Downstream - 15th September 1943 6. Construction of Dam Wall for Rocky Valley Dam - 1958khes, secv

Howman's Gap camp was erected in 1948. The proposed dam to be built at this site was postponed in 1954 because of financial restraints imposed by the government at this time. It was to have supplied water for No. 2 Power Station at the Junction of the Pretty Valley and Rocky Valley branches of the East Kiewa River. This power station was not constructed until 2008 - 2010 and now gets it water from McKay Creek Power Station. The site of this camp is now occupied by the Howman's Gap Alpine Centre. Some of the original buildings still remain. An excellent photographic record of the type of buildings and size of the camp for accommodation of workmen during construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.Black and white photograph of the buildings erected at Howmans Dam site as accommodation for workmen.Handwritten in blue ink on the back of photograph "Howmans Dam Camp"howman's gap, camp, water, dam

At the Pretty Valley Dam site erection of staff quarters was completed in April, 1947 and accommodation for workmen commenced in 1948 but suspended on 11th May for winter and resumed on 9th November. Construction of this camp was completed in 1949. A large dam was proposed at this site but was never constructed. Instead a small diversion dam was built which diverts water either to Rocky Valley Dam or to McKay Creek Power Station.An historical record of the type of accommodation provided for workmen during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Scheme during the 1940's/50'sBlack and white photograph of Pretty Valley Camp showing general terrain and the huts built to accommodate workmen employed on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.pretty valley, dam, water, workmen, camp

Erection of staff quarters at Pretty Valley was completed in April, 1947 and accommodation for construction workers commenced in 1948 but suspended on 11th May for winter and resumed on 9th November. Construction of this camp was completed in 1949. A large dam was proposed at this site but was never constructed. Instead a small diversion dam was built which diverts water either to Rocky Valley Dam or to McKay Creek Power Station.An historical record of the type of accommodation provided for workmen during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Scheme during the 1940's/50's.A black and white photograph of Pretty Valley Camp, c 1949. Dead trees are in the foreground, on both the left and right side of the photograph and a small snow gum is evident. There are camp huts and a much larger building behind these, possibly a workshop, and power poles are evident bringing electricity to the site.Handwritten in blue ink on back of photograph "Pretty Valley Camp. 5600 ft. above sea level".pretty valley, dam, water, workmen, camp

MEYER COLLECTION - FALLS CREEK PHOTOS In 1947 a determined group of like-minded State Electricity Commission (SEC) staff including Ray Meyer, the chief surveyor of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, had a common interest that revolved around the skiing potential of the snow-covered high plains which included what is now the resort of Falls Creek. The six SEC employees, Toni St Elmo, Ray Meyer, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson (together with their families) banded together to secretly build a 'hut' that was the first ski lodge at Falls Creek. Using a road built in 1930s to gain access to Falls Creek, their hut project was carried out in secret as efforts by other skiers were blocked by H.H.C. Williams – the engineer in charge of the Hydro Scheme. In 1946 Ray Meyer made a trip to the Lands Office in Melbourne. He came away with a 99-year lease on three acres that was ideally suited for a hut designed by Lloyd Dunn. Adrian Ruffenacht (Design Engineer for the KHS) had suggested where the group should build because of easy access to a spring for water. Much of the building material required was scavenged from derelict huts on the high plains. Due to the need for secrecy, the determined group worked on the hut in the evenings and weekends to avoid detection. During the building period the group had met at Echidna Rock (now known as Eagle Rock) where Skippy St Elmo announced, "This is my favourite ‘Skyline’.” And so the first lodge in the area at Falls Creek Ski Resort came into existence. With the development of the International Poma in the 1970s, the Skyline Lodge, which was sited between the ski-lift’s pole one and pole two, was demolished. However, the legacy of Ray Meyer, Toni St Elmo, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson and Skyline lives on in the vibrant atmosphere of Falls Creek Resort. The MEYER COLLECTION documents developments on the Kiewa Hydro Scheme and their life at Falls Creek from the mid 1930s to 1960s.This image is significant because it documents the development of the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme.A black and white photo taken inside the Pretty Valley Camp kitchen. Staff quarters was completed in April, 1947 and accommodation for workmen commenced in 1948 but was suspended from May until November. Construction of this camp was completed in 1949. A large dam was proposed at this site but it was never constructed, being replaced by a smaller diversion dam.falls creek, victorian snowfields, pretty valley