Yallourn - Scenic Drive (Power Trail Route 98)
Coal was first discovered in the Latrobe City in 1873 and is one of the largest coal deposits in the world. Nearly 90 percent of Australia's brown coal reserves are located in Latrobe City and the power stations currently produce approximately 87 percent of Victoria's electricity.
The Power Trail is route number 98 and you can pick up the trail at any point along the way. There are 15 stops along the trail including Loy Yang Power Station and Open Cut Mine, Yallourn Power Station and Open Cut Mine, Miners Lookout and the original site of the town of Yallourn.
Visit one or take the whole day and visit them all, this is certainly something you should not miss on your visit to Gippsland.
Approximate travel time: 2 hours
The Latrobe Valley contains one of the world's largest coal deposits and nearly 90% of Australia's brown coal reserves. It currently produces approximately 87% of the State's electricity. Three coal mines/open cuts feed four major power generating stations (Loy Yang B, Hazelwood and Yallourn) all situated in a 30 kilometre zone. The coal belt runs east-wards from Yallourn almost continuously for 50 kilometres and ranges between 8 and 16 kilometres wide. The Latrobe Valley deposit is estimated at 15 to 50 million years old. In geological terms it is young coal, which explains its soft, crumbly texture and high moisture content. These qualities are partly compensated for by the thick seams close to the surface which make it comparatively cheap to be dug in large amounts. Currently 185,000 tonnes of brown coal is beneath us and it is estimated that at current rates of extraction there are sufficient deposits of coal in the region to last 300 years. Coal was first discovered in the Latrobe Valley in 1873 and mined on the north side of the Latrobe River by the Great Morwell Coal Mining Company and later by the Victorian Government. The State Electricity Commission (SECV) was formed in 1921 and by 1924 power began flowing down the transmission lines to Melbourne. To supply an increasing demand, Morwell Power Station commenced in 1958, Hazelwood Power Station in 1964, Yallourn W in 1973, Loy Yang A in 1984 and Loy Yang B in 1993.
Web Links
→ Power Trail Route 98 Brochure & Map (PDF)
