Lemonthyme Power Station

Fingerboard sign assembly showing the now defunct route C139 at the junction of Olivers Rd (C138) & Lemonthyme Rd (C139), 31km west of Mole Creek. Source: Peter Renshaw, March 2008.

Introduced: 1980

Length: 10km

Northern Terminus: Olivers Rd (C138) & Lemonthyme Rd (C139), 31km west of Mole Creek

Southern Terminus: Lemonthyme Power Station

Route taken: Lemonthyme Rd

Focal Points: Lemonthyme Power Station

Responsibility: Hydro Tasmania

C139 was a short spur route from Olivers Road (C138) to the Lemonthyme Power Station, which is a hydro-electric power station within the Mersey-Forth catchment area. The route was allocated as part of the initial alpha-numeric scheme in 1980 to provide tourist access, as was the case with many of the other power stations in the state. However, in recent years, Hydro has become more and more reluctant to allow public access to its power station sites and has closed a number of roads and visitor facilities to the public. As part of this process, C139 was formally decommissioned in 2011.

Lemonthyme Road is a well-constructed, fully sealed road which was originally constructed in 1960s to facilitate development of the Mersey-Forth power scheme. The road begins atop Olivers Plains before descending to the power station in the Forth River valley. When Peter Renshaw visited in April 2008 there were no longer any visitor facilities evident and access to the power station site was prevented by a locked gate at the bottom of the descent into the valley. Public access is still available to a lookout located at the top of the descent.

Photos of former route C139
	Fingerboard sign assembly showing the now defunct route C139 at the junction of Olivers Rd (C138) & Lemonthyme Rd (former C139), 31km west of Mole Creek. Source: Peter Renshaw, March 2008.
	Unusual tourist sign facing westbound traffic on Olivers Rd (C138) at the junction with Lemonthyme Rd (former C139). For an Australian, it is really unusual to see directions spelt out with multiple route codes! Source: Peter Renshaw, March 2008.
	Private road sign facing southbound traffic on Lemonthyme Rd (former C139) near its junction with Olivers Rd (C138). Source: Peter Renshaw, April 2008.
	Lemonthyme Rd (former C139) looking north across the pine-covered Olivers Plains, 1.5km south of Olivers Rd (C138). Source: Peter Renshaw, April 2008.
	Another northerly view of Lemonthyme Rd (former C139) across Olivers Plains, with the southern side of Mt Roland visible in the distance. Source: Peter Renshaw, April 2008.
	Lemonthyme Rd (former C139) looking south towards the beginning of the descent into the Forth River valley, 4.5km south of Olivers Rd (C138). The sign in the background reads 'Scenic Lookout Ahead'. Source: Peter Renshaw, April 2008.
	Two southbound views of Lemonthyme Rd (former C139) on the descent into the Forth River valley. Source: Peter Renshaw, April 2008.
	The end of the road - public access along Lemonthyme Rd (former C139) ends at this locked gate, approximately 250m before the power station. There are no visitor facilities here. Source: Peter Renshaw, April 2008.