Introduction of electric power to the Upper Clutha

It was still candles and kerosene lamps in the Upper Clutha until the late 1930s. Electric power did not get switched on in Pembroke (Wānaka) until 17 November 1939. An official opening and celebration was held in the Pembroke Hall on 17 November 1939.[1]

As far back as the late 1920s, Upper Clutha farming interests had been seeking Government action to deliver electric power to the Upper Clutha so the land could be irrigated. They were unsuccessful. In the 1930s, the Wanaka Progress League and others had made numerous representations to anyone who might listen, and also to move the Upper Clutha from the Lakes County Power Board area to Otago Central Power Board area (the ones with material electric power generation facilities and sources!). Most of the interest from outside of the Upper Clutha seemed to be on how Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea could become sources of power for the rest of the country.

Roaring Meg Power Station. Normal river level in 1957, viewed from along the gorge looking towards the west. Sourced from Cromwell Museum (CR1985.1024).

About 1931 the construction of a power station at Roaring Meg by the Otago Central Power Board was discussed, and in late 1934 it was given the go ahead. It was financed mainly by the Clutha and Molyneux gold dredging companies providing funds in advance for anticipated power consumption. They were building two new electric dredges. Otago Central Power Board had been obtaining some of its power requirements from the Teviot Power Board and the contract only had about a year to run so action was needed. By October 1935, Queenstown had joined in seeking access to power from Roaring Meg.[2]

Roaring Meg was opened in March 1936. The strong representations from the Upper Clutha had the effect of approval to be part of the Otago Central Power Board area and in March 1938 work started on erecting power poles and lines into the Upper Clutha. In early 1939, power poles were appearing in the streets of Wānaka and in July, the Power Board opened an office in the town.

The Otago Central Power Board did connect to the South Island Grid in 1957.[3] This was just after Roxburgh dam power generation was connected to the South Island Grid on 24 July 1956 (there was no Cook Strait cable then to make everything “national” – it didn’t start sending power north until 1965).

[1] Power Turned on, Lake Wakatipu Mail, 21 November 1939.
[2] Cromwell, Cromwell Argus, 3 December 1934, p4.
[3] https://www.clt.net.nz/expanded-history, accessed 12 August 2023.