Bright - Tawonga Gap Road Loookout Points
On the Tawonga Gap Road between Bright and Mount Beauty there are a number of lookout points with lovely views of the valley below. There is one point at the top of the Tawonga Gap, 7.6km from Mount Beauty (with viewing platform sticking out over the valley and tables) and another (Sullivans Lookout) 1.4 km closer.
Sullivans Lookout
Located on the Kiewa Valley side of the Tawonga Gap Road (en route to the Ovens Valley region), Sullivans Lookout has breathtaking views of Mount Bogong, Mount Beauty township and its regulating pondage. It's an opportunity to take spectacular photos. There is a picnic table.
Signage at the lookout displays the following information:
Settlement of the Kiewa Valley
Hume and Hovell first came across the Kiewa River in 1824, at its confluence with the Murray River. Following the drought of 1838-44, pastoralists sought out the rich pastures in the fertile Kiewa Valley. One of the first settlements in the Upper Kiewa valley was taken up at Tawonga Station in 1841 by James Roberts.
The Bogong High Plains became a popular summer grazing destination for many Kiewa Valley cattle farmers. Cattle would be taken up to the high plains for the summer and then mustered and returned to the valley for winter.
For the remainder of the 19th and 20th centuries the major industries of the Kiewa Valley were cattle grazing, dairying, tobacco growing, timber harvesting and milling. Viticulture and green tea production were introduced with tobacco growing and timber production no longer pursued.
LATER SETTLEMENT
In 1911 a Hydro Electric scheme was mooted for the High Plains due to the amount of rainfall and melting winter snow. It was not until 1937 that the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC) recommended this scheme with the building of three power stations at McKay Creek, Clover and West Kiewa.
Workers and their families were first housed at Bogong Village. When this became too restrictive as a base camp Mount Beauty was established in 1947. At its peak the scheme employed around 4000 people. The scheme was finished by 1961 and the administration of Mount Beauty was handed over to the Bright Shire, now the Alpine Shire.
Today Mount Beauty is a thriving community. It is classified as one of the most complete company towns in Victoria due to the housing being established by the SEC.
Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme
The large body of water at the base of Mount Beauty is known as the Regulating Pondage. It performs a key role in the scheme which begins at Rocky Valley Dam near Falls Creek.
The Kiewa scheme is the largest hydroelectric scheme in Victoria, developed solely for power generation with four power stations having a total capacity of 393MW (440GWh), supplied to the national electricity grid, sufficient to power approximately 65,000 homes with renewable energy.
Starting in the Alps and finishing in the Kiewa Valley, the four power stations are McKay Creek, Bogong, Clover and West Kiewa. The flow of water through these stations at successively lower levels enables the same water to be used repeatedly to generate electricity before entering the Regulating Pondage ready for discharge into the river system. The Kiewa scheme was first conceptualised in 1911. Construction began in 1938 and work on the first three power stations was completed in 1961.
Shortly after AGL acquired the scheme in 2005, work commenced on the fourth power station, Bogong. It was the largest hydroelectric scheme developed on mainland Australia in 25 years. To learn more about the scheme, visit the AGL Visitor Centre located in Bogong Village - details are available from the Mount Beauty Visitors Centre.
Falls Creek Alpine Resort
Falls Creek is Victoria's largest all season Alpine Resort, located 30 Kms from Mt Beauty.
In the winter months Falls Creek is a winter wonderland, offering skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snow play and much more in a unique ski in/ski out European Village style setting.
The terrain is described as progression perfect with slopes to suit every ability. Summer activities come to life when the snow melts with road cycling, mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, fishing, hiking and an action packed calendar of events.
Falls Creek is home to the highest body of water in Victoria, Rocky Valley Lake, which plays host to a Dragon Boat Regatta. Victoria's highest drivable point, Mount McKay at 1,849m offers spectacular views. Visitors also get to take advantage of the cooler summer temperatures experienced at the Resort.
Tawonga Gap Lookout
A short drive on from Sullivans Lookout towards Bright is the Mount Bogong / Tawonga Gap Lookout with views looking further north up the Kiewa Valley. From here you will also get a good view of the Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley storage facilities that commence the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The eastern side of Mount Feathertop is visible beyond the Yaithmathang Range, and Mount Bogong is prominent in the distance.
Photos:
Location
Tawonga Gap Road, Bright 3741 Map
