What was The Snowy? Severe droughts in the late 19th century saw discussions begin about using the run-off water from the Snowy Mountains for irrigation. In December 1941, the newly elected Labor government of NSW began an inquiry into the possible use of the waters from the Snowy to help farmers living in the south-west of NSW. In 1944 the results of the inquiry stated that work should commence on a Snowy water project. Three governments work together By looking at the following map you can appreciate the size of the Scheme. From Adaminaby in the north to near Delegate in the south, it is approximately double the size of the Australian Capital Territory. Map of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme Part 1 Migrants 49
Activity 19 Answer the following questions based on the map. 1 In which state or territory does the Snowy River start? 2 Which three governments would be concerned with the management of the Scheme? Check your responses by going to the suggested answers section. Although the Snowy River starts in NSW, it travels into Victoria, releasing its waters into the Pacific Ocean south of Orbost, Victoria. As well as the Victorian and Federal governments were also interested in using the waters from the Snowy, but their main aim was to produce hydro-electricity: that is, using water to make electricity. During World War II, the Federal, NSW and Victorian governments held discussions about the best ways to use the water from the Snowy region. The governments were unable to agree on a system where the water could be used for both irrigation and hydro-electricity, due to NSW s determination that the water be mainly used for irrigation. In 1948, a system was suggested which would involve building giant dams to collect rain and melting snow which runs annually into rivers and catchments in the Snowy Mountains and to utilise it, initially for the production of electricity, and then for the irrigation of the very dry areas in NSW west of the Great Dividing Range. NSW was still reluctant to allow the use of the water for the production of electricity, so the Federal Government used its emergency powers under the Defence Act to pass the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act (1949) which stated that the Snowy project was needed for defence purposes. The 1949 Act established the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority (SMA) and its headquarters were built at Cooma. 50 Changing Rights and Freedoms
Read the following extract from the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act, 1949. The [Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric] Authority has power to construct, maintain, operate, protect, manage and control works for the collection, diversion and storage of water in the Area, for the generation of electricity in the Area, and for the transmission of electricity so generated: AND WHEREAS one of the necessary results of the construction and operation of those works will be the diversion inland into the Murray or Murrumbidgee River systems or both of a substantial flow of water which has been flowing to the sea in the Snowy River in the State of Victoria... Source: Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act, 1949. Activity 20 Answer this question based on the Act of 1949. List the two main purposes of the Snowy Scheme. Check your responses by going to the suggested answers section. The need for workers The proposed building of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme (the Scheme) was the largest ever to be taken in Australia. Thousands of workers were going to be needed to build such a large construction. Where do you think the workers were going to come from? Write down an answer if you think you know. Part 1 Migrants 51
As you have learnt, in the years following World War II there was a shortage of labour in Australia. Employers and governments throughout Australia were concerned that all available workers would be called up to work on the Scheme. The Federal Government promised the states that it would not take away their labour. Instead, the companies working on The Scheme were encouraged to look for employees overseas. The Snowy Mountains Scheme became very important to post-war immigration. Originally supervisors from Norway migrated to Australia to work on the Snowy. Men from Yugoslavia, Austria, Italy, Greece, Britain and Ireland soon followed. Over the 25 years it took to build the Scheme, workers came to Australia from over 30 different countries. Approximately 100 000 people worked on the Scheme. Two-thirds, or approximately 66 000 of these workers, were new Australians, the majority of whom came from Displaced Persons Camps. These DPs were given free passage to Australia provided they signed an agreement to work on the Scheme for two years. Life on the Snowy The majority of people working on the Scheme came from Europe. As you can imagine, it was very hard for migrants to move not only across the world to a new country, but to a very isolated location to work on the Snowy Scheme. Tens of thousands of migrants came from large, busy European cities to the virtual wilderness of the Snowy, seeking a new life. As well as the normal hardships of life in the mountains, foreign animals and birds and the unfamiliarly strong smell of eucalyptus confronted migrants. Many came from countries that had recently been at war and some pre-existing hostility between different nationalities was also present on occasions. Hardships on the Snowy Communication was one of the biggest problems for the migrant workers on the Snowy that had to be overcome. All official Snowy Mountains Authority (SMA) correspondence was written in English but often the migrants working together found a common language, such as French or German, to talk amongst themselves. 52 Changing Rights and Freedoms
Isolation, homesickness and loneliness were also difficulties faced by those working on the Scheme. Many men who had migrated to Australia had left their families at home. When they had saved enough money, they would send for their families to join them. Single men who had already migrated also sent home requests for prospective wives to migrate to Australia to join them. A multicultural society Like many other areas in Australia at the time, many of the migrant workers on the Scheme experienced opposition to their arrival in the Snowy area. To combat this, the migrant workers were encouraged to assimilate by speaking English, and acting and dressing like Australians. English classes run by the SMA helped assimilation. All non Englishspeaking Authority workers were expected to attend classes for at least six months. Classes were also often open to the wives of migrant workers. The SMA also supported the Good Neighbour Movement in Cooma whose aim was to help the New Australians adapt to living in Australia. Snowy workers were encouraged to become Australian citizens and the SMA arranged regular naturalisation ceremonies where migrants could adopt Australian citizenship as well. The isolation of the Snowy area meant that many migrants continued to speak in their native language and observe many of the customs of their homelands. With such a diverse population working on the Snowy, differences were acknowledged and often appreciated. In fact, the Scheme is often described as Australia s first multicultural society, twenty-five years before multiculturalism became a national policy. Activity 21 Answer the following questions based on what you have learnt about the Snowy Mountains community. 1 How were migrants encouraged to assimilate? Part 1 Migrants 53
2 Why was the Snowy Mountains community considered Australia s first multicultural society? Check your responses by going to the suggested answers section. In the next lesson, you have the opportunity to explore the Scheme further by examining the CD-ROM, The Snowy: an historical site study. Go to the exercises section and complete Exercises 1.13 to 1.15 as directed by your teacher. 54 Changing Rights and Freedoms