The structure was completed by Thiess Brothers in 1966,[1] and is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 that is now run by Snowy Hydro.

It was constructed by Thiess Brothers based on engineering plans developed under contract by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.

At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 21,093,000 cubic metres (744,900,000 cu ft) of water.

[2][3] Geehi Reservoir receives water from Island Bend Pondage through the Snowy-Geehi tunnel.

Water from Geehi Reservoir is carried via the Murray 1 pressure tunnel to the Murray 1 power station, which is rated for a hydraulic head of 460.2 metres (1,510 ft) and has a total generating capacity of 950 megawatts (1,270,000 hp) (a net generation of 1,413 gigawatt-hours (5,090 TJ) per annum).