One Mile Creek Hydro-electric station was the first municipal hydro power plant for Queenstown village. The station operated from 1924 – 1966.
A hydro-electric scheme to light Queenstown’s streets was first discussed by the Borough Council in 1892, but the proposal was turned down due to cost. Acetylene gas was instead installed in 1910. After the acetylene plant failed in 1923, the council again investigated developing a hydro-electric scheme.
A reinforced concrete arch dam about 12 m high and 1 m average thickness supplied water to the power station, near the Lake Wakatipu shoreline, under a static head of 150 m. A Boving pelton wheel was installed to drive a 60 kilowatt generator. The operation of the station was fully automatic. Mr. A.P. Aldridge of Dunedin, was the electrical engineer for the scheme.
From the power house, electricity was conveyed at 3300 volts to two substations where it was converted to 230 volts for lighting, and 400 volts for other uses. Street lighting was separately controlled by two 3-phase time switches set with a clock, which was wound once a month. Over 80 lamps provided lighting throughout the town.
The opening of the scheme was widely celebrated by residents and visitors. An afternoon procession in fancy dress made its way to the power house. In the evening the town lights were ceremoniously switched on by the Mayoress and an evening function at the local hall was well attended.
As demand increased, the station’s generation was supplemented from 1937 by a diesel plant used to cope with peak demand and low stream flows.
The One Mile Creek Station was purchased by the Central Otago Electric Power Board in 1945 and continued generating until 1966 when it was closed down. The headworks were bought back by the Queenstown Borough Council for water supply purposes.
One Mile Creek Hydro-electric Station. Engineering New Zealand, 2019.
Machinery inside the restored power house. One Mile Powerhouse Restoration Trust, 2006.
The building was used as a council store and later as a temporary works site office. It then remained unused for many years, eventually falling into disrepair. By mid-2001, the building had suffered extensive damage from vandalism and fire. This gave rise to concerns about the threat it posed to the wooded Queenstown hill and a proposal was put forward to demolish the building.
In 2001, a group of heritage enthusiasts began a discussion with the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s executive, looking for a way to save the building.
The One Mile Powerhouse Restoration Trust formed in 2002, and with Council sanction and support from Heritage New Zealand and Queenstown and District Historical Society, presented a plan and costings for restoration of the powerhouse and reinstatement of the plant. The project was completed in 2005.
The restoration project won the David Cox Memorial Award 2005/06.
More information
Further reading
"Queenstown Hydro – Electric Scheme," Lake Wakatip Mail, 23 September 1924, p4.
Access
The powerhouse static display is accessible at all times. The small powerhouse is a short walk up a track which takes you inland from the intersection of Fernhill and Glenorchy Roads and Lake Esplanade. There is a lake edge carparking area nearby.
Entry by Lloyd Smith
Page last updated 9 September 2023
