About 12-15 years ago, I met a man in Sofala (near Bathurst), who has a Tesla coil, who also say if he turns it on, it will disrupt the flow of electricity in a 50 mile (80 k) radius. As the power companies are aware of this, they've told him - warned him would be more likely - that should he turn it on, they'll send him the repair bill.
His name is Richard Wigglesworth and he has a museum of sorts two doors up river from the township. He also has a replica (it could be working by now) model of a steam driven power station; he built it himself by himself from parts of the old Bunnerong Power Station in Sydney.
An interesting 'character' to say the least
