Historical information

Lance Matthews was a former student of the Ballarat School of Mines. Dick Richards was the Principal

Construction of the Snowy Scheme was managed by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority, it officially began on 17 October 1949 and took 25 years, officially completed on 21 October 1972.

Physical description

A letter comprising of three handwritten pages discussing experiences of work with the Snowy River Authority by Lance Mattews. The letter was written to Richard W. Richards, Principal of the Ballarat School of Mines. A forth page is a response to the letter by Dick Richards.

In the letter Matthew relates that he is living at Cooma in the East Camp, and compares the living condition to an army camp. Matthew was working for contractors, Kaiser Walsh, at the Base Plant Pool at Polo Flat about 2 miles out of Cooma. He was involved in a two week tour (inventory) of the Snowy River Scheme and saw most part of the project including Adaminaby Dam, Tunnel Pond, T1 power station and the sites and initial stages of Tooma Reservoir, Lobs Hole Reservoir, Jindabyne Reservoir and several access tunnels..