Balgowlah Substation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balgowlah Substation |
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| Location | 83 Griffiths Street, Balgowlah, Northern Beaches Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architectural style(s) | Interwar Stripped Classical |
| Owner | Ausgrid |
| Official name: Substation; #15003 Balgowlah 33KV Zone Substation | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 936 |
| Type | Electricity Transformer/Substation |
| Category | Utilities - Electricity |
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The Balgowlah Substation is a special building in Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1928 to help deliver electricity. Today, it's a child care centre! This building is important because it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's protected for its history and unique design. It's also known as #15003 Balgowlah 33KV Zone Substation.
Contents
What is the Balgowlah Substation?
The Balgowlah Substation was once a key part of the electricity network. It helped change high-voltage electricity into lower voltage. This made it safe for homes and businesses to use. It's located at 83 Griffiths Street in Balgowlah.
History of the Substation
How it Started
Before 1928, the land where the substation now stands was used for farming. In 1926, the Municipal Council of Sydney bought the land. They needed a new substation to provide more electricity to the Manly area.
The substation was built in 1928. You can still see "M.C. of S. ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT SUBSTATION no. 191" and "1928" carved above its entrances. It has a similar design to other substations built around the same time in Pymble and Randwick.
Changing Owners and Upgrades
Over the years, the substation changed hands many times. In 1951, it was transferred to the MacKellar County Council (MCC). Later, it briefly went to Elcom, but MCC got it back in 1955.
In 1976, the building got some important updates. Workers replaced the fence, fixed the roof, and repainted it.
In 1979, the MCC joined with the Sydney County Council (SCC). The SCC then took over the Balgowlah Substation. They upgraded the transformers and cables that year. Transformers help change the voltage of electricity.
The SCC later became Sydney Electricity. In 1996, it joined with EnergyAustralia. Then, in 2011, EnergyAustralia's electricity network became known as Ausgrid. Ausgrid still owns the property today.
Dealing with Noise
In 1980, people living nearby complained about noise from the substation. To help, brick walls were built around the noisy parts. This helped reduce some of the sound.
Later, the transformer areas were fully enclosed with masonry. Cooling fans were also added to keep things running smoothly. More upgrades to the equipment happened in 1985.
What Does it Look Like?
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The Balgowlah Substation is a beautiful building. It has one and two storeys. It's made of face brick, which means the bricks are visible on the outside. The building was designed in a style called Interwar Stripped Classical. This style often features tall, narrow shapes and decorative details.
You can see its classic style in the arched windows and the decorative brickwork. There are also special cement plaques above the arches. Two large entrances with roller shutters were used for access.
The building's base and outer parts are made of strong sandstone. At the back, you can see a cool, rough-cut sandstone rock-face.
Why is it Heritage Listed?
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The Balgowlah Substation is considered very important. It's a great example of a well-designed substation from the 1920s. It's quite rare to find a building like this in such good condition. Because of its unique style and history, it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This listing happened on April 2, 1999. It means the building is protected and valued for future generations.
