In 1958, the Hydro-Electric Commission began construction of a village named Poatina at the foot of the Great Western Tiers in central Tasmania. It soon became a vibrant community of around 3000 people. Yet within a few years it had all but disappeared again, as construction at Poatina wound down.

The son of a local farmer, Rob Young reflects on what it was like growing up amidst the construction, remembers some of the local characters, researches those involved and the machines used to build the power station. He then draws upon 25 years’ experience in evaluating major capital projects to provide insights into the risks, practices and performance of the Great Lake Development.