The Tasmanian government wanted the dam to go ahead. They argued it would meet the state's energy needs and create jobs for Tasmanians at a time of high unemployment.

Meanwhile, protestors and environmental activists from across the nation lobbied the Australian government to stop the dam. They wanted to save the First Nations heritage and pristine wilderness that would be destroyed by it.

The case was settled in 1983 in the High Court of Australia. The High Court found that the UNESCO World Heritage status of the Franklin River gave the Australian Government the constitutional power to stop construction of the dam.

Curriculum areas

Year 7 Civics and Citizenship – AC9HC7K01, AC9HC7K02, AC9HC7K03, AC9HC7S04

Year 8 Civics and Citizenship – AC9HC8K01, AC9HC8K03

Year 9 Civics and Citizenship – AC9HC9K02

Year 10 Civics and Citizenship – AC9HC10K03, AC9HC10K04, AC9HC10S01

Year 10 History – AC9HH10K14, AC9HH10K16, AC9HH10K18, AC9HH10K20

Year 7 Geography – AC9HG7K02, AC9HG7K03

Year 11, 12 Geography – Geography Unit 3

Using this resource

This resource tells the story of the Franklin dam case through six archival records.

Each archival record is a primary source. The 'about this record' secondary information has been provided to help you understand each primary source in its historic context.

'Food for Thought' questions are provided to encourage you to reflect further on the origins, purpose and significance of each archival record.

If you want to reference the records or secondary information on this page in a research task, our referencing archival records for school students page will guide you.