Tasmania's ORIGINAL Lake Pedder - "In Memoriam"

This super 8 silent movie from March 1971 was filmed by bushwalker and conservationist Arnold Rowlands on his last flight into Lake Pedder before it was flooded by the damming of the Gordon, Serpentine, and Huon Rivers. I have digitised a video copy and added a soundtrack and titles, and wish to share my tribute to Lake Pedder with you. I walked into Lake Pedder in 1971 and this very special place lives on in my memory. May it inspire you too as it did many Tasmanians, who fought hard for its preservation, and although unsuccessful, laid the foundation for the world's first Green Political Party. May it live again one day!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• events
• nature
• landmark
• Lake
• Pedder
• Tasmania
• wilderness
• environment
• Greens
• bushwalking
• bushwalk
• beach

[merlot682000]

What a massive loss and for what? Thanks for posting this - it is so rare to see film of the original lake. Just one small point, Pedder was not flooded by the damming of the Franklin (thankfully the Franklin still runs free) but rather the Huon and Serpentine Rivers

[tasMINIman]

Thanks for "proof reading" my comments. I have corrected the video comments to match what is on the map.

[tasMINIman]

Update - I have since confirmed with Arnold that the film was shot in April 1971 and not 1972 as titled in the movie and in the comments. This explains why the beach is wider than I remembered from my trip in December 1971 when the water level was just starting to rise.

[cradlemountainmayfly]

In my life time, too much loss. Just look at the rivers now! Look at the sea! What will be left for our grandchildren? Is it a short term industry that will eventually fail, as the rains stop, and the world turns around and waits for nobody. Just look at your bodies! It is a similar story to the landscape. It is cleaver to build a dam, but it is cleverer to see a long term future like 200 years from now.

[MsTerryC]

@gnomecat66

Sorry, but I see what the Hydro did as being for the good of ALL Tasmanians. If you and your Green mates cannot see past the limited value of the old lake, and the benefits gained by a few local people, I feel sad for you, but you will not change my view, or the views of the majority of Tasmanians.

[gnomecat66]

@MsTerryC Never will families near the williams be able to mourn there again- where the dead were will only be dirty water. In the case of Pedder, more than 200 would have seen the lake, and even if it were only this handful of people even more reason they should have maintained it - so more people could see it for what it was.

[gnomecat66]

@MsTerryC it is not only for aesthetic reasons that people are disgruntled with the flooding of lakes. Ecosystems are ruined, people living/using the land for farming are displaced, and the dams are placed in inappropriate places ie. the Williams river is being proposed as a place for tillegra dam- meaning many people would lose their agricultural plots handed down generation to generation, their homes... there is also a giant cemetry there.

[gnomecat66]

THANKYOU SO MUCH for at least letting me see a glimpse of what Pedder was like. Let this film remind us of why the Franklin and Williams rivers should not be dammed too.

[MsTerryC]

Tell me, how many members of the public would ever have seen the "Lost" or "drowned" lake? fifty? 200? whatever.. the new Pedder, and the Gordon are magnificent, and available to ALL that want to see them not just a few greenies and bushwalkers.. why live in the past? the little lake is gone, and Tasmania now has some real lake scenery, and a heritage for all Australians.

[forzafernando]

Wow!!!!!