Brisbane City Council Tramways Substation No. 8 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brisbane City Council Tramways Substation No. 8 |
|
|---|---|
The substation is now an art studio.
|
|
| Location | 134 Kedron Park Road, Wooloowin, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1934 - 1937 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Brisbane City Council Tramways Substation No. 8 (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 5 August 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602411 |
| Significant period | 1934-1969 (historical) |
| Significant components | views to, substation - tramway, platform, crane / gantry |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Brisbane City Council Tramways Substation No. 8 is a special old building in Wooloowin, Queensland. It's located at 134 Kedron Park Road. This building was constructed between 1934 and 1937. Its main job was to help power Brisbane's electric trams. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of the state's history.
Contents
Brisbane's Tram History
Early Trams and Electricity
Brisbane first had horse-drawn trams starting in 1885. These were run by a company from England. The city's first public electricity came in 1888. Many different private companies supplied electricity back then. It was a bit confusing because Brisbane had fourteen separate local areas.
In 1895, the Brisbane Tramways Company bought the horse tram system. They changed it to electric trams, which started running in 1897. A power station was built in Countess Street to provide electricity for these new trams.
Expanding Tram Lines and Power Needs
As the tram lines grew and reached more suburbs, the Countess Street power station wasn't big enough. Parts of its equipment were moved to a building on Logan Road. This helped power the trams on the south side of the river.
By 1918, the tramway's public power system in South Brisbane was sold. It went to the City Electric Light Company. After World War I, people wanted the tram system to be run by a public group. So, in 1922, the Brisbane Tramway Trust was created.
Brisbane City Council Takes Over
In 1925, the Brisbane City Council was formed. This meant one group could plan electricity and public transport for the whole city. Expanding electricity and improving transport were very important. They helped suburbs grow because most people didn't own cars. A good public transport system was key for people to get to work, school, and shops.
The council decided to build its own big power station in New Farm. This station opened in 1928. It sent power to a network of 11 smaller tramway substations built in the 1920s and 1930s. These substations were placed in important spots along the tram lines.
Designing the Substations
A lot of thought went into how the tramway substations looked. Architects like R. R. Ogg designed them to be strong and useful, but also beautiful. They had elegant shapes and detailed brickwork.
By 1933, a new substation was urgently needed in Kedron. The substation in Windsor was working too hard every afternoon. The council bought land for the new substation in May 1934. Construction began soon after.
Roy Rusden Ogg's Work
Before 1940, the tramways architect, Roy Rusden Ogg, was in charge of substation designs. He worked with chief engineers to design at least 10 substations in Brisbane. He also designed the first parts of the New Farm power station. Ogg also designed the Tramways Department's main office building.
The Substation's Later Life
The Kedron substation kept working until Brisbane's trams were phased out in the late 1960s. In 1969, the tram line closed. The electrical parts were removed from the substation. However, the special travelling crane inside stayed.
After that, the building became a depot for the State Emergency Services. Some changes were made inside to fit its new use. For example, a lower floor was extended to park a rescue boat. A new level was added in the mid-1980s. A small brick garage was also built next to it.
What Does the Substation Look Like?
The former substation is a two-storey building. It looks simple and strong. It's made of dark, shiny bricks laid in a pattern called English bond.
The roof is hidden by a brick wall at the front and sides. This wall has fancy brickwork, including a decorative band with brick dentils (which look like teeth). The metal drainpipes are also nicely detailed. The windows have flat concrete tops and sills. A large metal roller door is below the windows on the Kedron Park Road side.
The lower part of the building is quite plain. You enter by a concrete and steel staircase. You can see where parts of the building have been changed over time, with openings added or filled in. The back wall is covered in corrugated iron. There's a small brick garage at one corner.
Inside, there's a steel and timber mezzanine floor, which is like a half-floor. The ceiling is covered with fibrous cement sheets. The original travelling crane is still there, with its ropes and pulleys. It moves on steel rails supported by brickwork. Some parts of the brick walls are painted, and others are not. You can still see old openings and brackets from when the building was a substation.
Next to the main area, there's a kitchen, a toilet, and a storage space. The outside areas are paved and connect to the car park of the hotel next door.
Why is it Heritage Listed?
The former Brisbane City Council Tramways Substation No. 8 was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2003. This means it's considered very important to Queensland's history and culture. Here's why:
Showing Queensland's History
This building helps us understand how Queensland's industry grew. It's also strongly connected to how Brisbane's suburbs expanded in the 1920s and 1930s. It shows how the city's electricity supply system developed.
A Rare Part of History
The substation is now a rare reminder of Brisbane's tram system. Trams stopped running in 1969, and much of their old equipment has been removed. So, this building is a special piece of that past.
A Great Example of its Kind
The substation shows the main features of Brisbane's tramway substations. Its design, size, and materials are typical of these important buildings. It's also a great example of the useful and well-designed work of tramways architect Roy Rusden Ogg.
Its Beautiful Design
The substation looks good in the streetscape. Its quality design and materials help it be both useful and pleasing to look at.
Connected to Important People
The building is a fine example of the work of Roy Rusden Ogg. He was a key architect for the Brisbane tramways. His work is an important part of Queensland's history.
Images for kids
-
View from opposite side of Kedron Brook Road, 2015
