About Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre
The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre is an educational visitor centre on the Monaro Highway in Cooma, New South Wales, the gateway to the Snowy Mountains. It interprets the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Australia's largest engineering project constructed between 1949 and 1974. The centre features interactive exhibits, scale models, films and historical displays explaining hydro-electric power generation, tunnelling, dam construction and the Scheme's role in Australia's post-war development.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect an indoor, family-friendly exhibition space with interactive models of dams, power stations and tunnels, historical photographs and artefacts, and a theatre showing films about the Snowy Mountains Scheme. The centre is located on the Monaro Highway at the northern entrance to Cooma with landscaped grounds, parking and views to surrounding Monaro plains. Areas to explore include exhibition galleries, a theatrette and a gift shop with Snowy Hydro merchandise.
Key highlights
- 01
Interactive scale models of the Snowy Mountains Scheme dams, tunnels and power stations
- 02
Theatrette screening documentary films on the construction of the Scheme
- 03
Historical displays and photographs documenting the 1949-1974 construction period
- 04
Educational exhibits explaining hydro-electric power generation and renewable energy