SunLive is profiling some of Tauranga's historic places dotted around the city. Reporter Zoe Hunter looks at Omanawa Falls' 100-year-old underground power station.

According to New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Omanawa Falls Power Station was originally built in 1915 to supply electricity to homes in Tauranga and across the Western Bay of Plenty.

The 100-year-old hydro-electric station is New Zealand's first underground hydro generating station, and is owed much to the enthusiasm of Tauranga Borough Council engineer Lloyd Mandeno.

Tauranga resident Heather McLean with the history [inset] of her grandfather, father and uncle, who all worked at the Omanawa Falls Power Station.

The power house consists of an artificial cave excavated out of rock, initially accommodating two 75kw 400volt direct-coupled generating sets.

Tauranga resident Heather Mclean's grandfather William Milne worked at the power station in 1917 and was Lloyd Mandeno's right hand man.

In 1918, Heather's father Tommy Milne began working at the power station and so did her uncle Johnny Milne.

'The three of them used to do a shift each. I can remember my dad having a fit because he was the youngest of the three; and if anything ever happened he was the one that was always caught out. If something was faulty then somebody had to go out and it was always my dad.

'It didn't open for long but I think my dad was there for about three years or so and then they moved up to McLaren's.”

Heather remembers her father taking her down to the tunnel leading to the underground station.

'The steps were very slippery and there was this beautiful lake down the bottom.”

The power station, which carries a NZHPT Category 2 registration, was restored in 2008 by hydro-electric entrepreneur Michael Davis.

People can visit Omanawa Falls but cannot get down to the power station due to health and safety reasons. Tauranga City Council is looking to restore the power station, so people can walk all the way to the historic power station.