The property was the first in the district to have electric light when Mr LF Thompson bought the generator previously installed by HR Lord for lighting the houses and streets of Latrobe which had been in place until taken over by the State’s Hydro Electric Commission. The generator was installed in the Power House.

Various views from a photograph album of Gaunts at Nietta featuring external and garden views and members of the Thompson and Stilwell families.

LF Thompson brought knowledge of power generation from England with water wheels and with the development of the Hoover Dam built a drop turbine power scheme on the Horseshoe Waterfall, also known as the Dynamo Waterfall located in the gardens and at the entrance of Gaunts Homestead. The drop turbine scheme was established as a way of modernising living and farming operations. A weir was established on the Castra Rivulet watercourse which was filled during the day and released by a sluice gate on dusk to provide lighting to the Homestead. This scheme also supplied power by large belts to the chaff cutter for thrashing chaff for the draught horses. The fishtail turbine is still located on the property, awaiting restoration. The Power House building was renovated by Honourable Chris Miles, his son Casey as an engineering student at the University of Tasmania and Matt Kelly in 1997 to its original glory.