Franklin River

A river in western Tasmania, Australia, that became the focus of a major conservation campaign against a proposed hydroelectric dam in the 1980s.

Connect

Gordon-below-Franklin Dam: A proposed hydroelectric project in Tasmania that would have flooded parts of the Franklin River catchment. The project triggered the campaign to protect the Franklin River.
World Heritage Committee: The committee that administers the World Heritage Convention and decides which properties receive World Heritage status. Its listing of Tasmanian wilderness strengthened the case for protecting the river.
Franklin River blockade: A 1982–1983 protest at the dam construction site in Tasmania, where activists sought to obstruct work and draw attention to the river. The blockade made resistance to the dam visible at the river itself.
Australian environmental movement: A diverse movement advocating environmental protection and sustainable management in Australia. The Franklin campaign became one of its most influential victories.
Tasmanian Wilderness Society: An Australian environmental organization that led campaigns to protect wilderness areas in Tasmania. It organized the campaign against the proposed dam.
World Heritage Convention: An international treaty establishing a system to identify and protect cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. Australia relied on its obligations under the Convention to justify federal intervention.
Franklin River referendum: A 1981 Tasmanian referendum on competing hydroelectric development proposals, in which many voters cast informal ballots opposing both options. The inconclusive vote became an early flashpoint in the dam dispute.
Australian Labor Party: A major Australian political party that formed the federal government in 1983 under Bob Hawke. Its election pledge and legislation halted the dam project.
Bob Brown: An Australian environmentalist and politician who helped lead the campaign to save the Franklin River. His activism brought the river campaign to wider public attention.
Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area: A protected area in western Tasmania inscribed on the World Heritage List for its natural and cultural values. The Franklin River lies within the wilderness area whose protection became central to the dispute.