THE SNOWY HARP ON THE FORESHORE OF LAKE JINDABYNE
A MONUMENT TO THE IRISH MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE WORKING ON THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS SCHEME.
The Snowy Harp is a monument located on Lake Jindabyne Foreshore, Banjo Paterson Crescent, Jindabyne, NSW, dedicated to the Irish men and women who lost their lives while working on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme from 1949 to 1972. The dedication took place on 27th October 2001 by His Excellency, Richard O`Brien Irish Ambassador to Australia.
When the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority was established in 1949, there was a serious national shortage of skilled personnel as a legacy of World War II. The Snowy began an intensive recruitment campaign overseas. Workes came from over 30 different countries as part of the program, a great many of those being from Ireland.
The Scheme also absorbed many of the migrants who were arriving in Australia in response to the Commonwealth Government’s Immigration Scheme in the post-war years. Overall, 100,000 people worked on the Scheme’s construction between 1949 and 1974 two-thirds of them migrant workers. The workforce reached a peak of 7,300 in 1959.
In 1999, the 50th anniversary of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a group of local Irish residents organised a reunion. This reunion raised over $6,000 in funds. John McLoughlin, Harry Cummins, Mick Bates and Arthur Costello decided to use the funds to construct a memorial to the Irish workers who lost their lives while working on the Scheme. The group decided on the Harp, as it is the national emblem of Ireland. From there, they went about organising the construction of the Harp and it now has pride of place on the edge of Lake Jindabyne. The Harp was dedicated by His Excellency Richard O’Brien, Irish Ambassador to Australia, on 27th October 2001. The years took their toll on the harp. Harry Cummins, with support from the Irish Embassy, the Canberra Irish Club, Friends of Ireland and other supporters of the Irish community in Canberra, has arranged much needed restoration of the monument.
The restored harp is temporarily situated here at the Canberra Irish Club for viewing, prior to moving it back to Jindabyne and rededication at a date to be advised.
