Brisbane Powerhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brisbane Powerhouse |
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The powerhouse is located in a converted power station
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| Former names | New Farm Powerhouse |
| General information | |
| Address | 119 Lamington Street, New Farm |
| Town or city | Brisbane |
| Country | Australia |
| Construction started | 1926 |
| Completed | 1940 |
| Renovated | 2000 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Roy Rusden Ogg |
| Renovating team | |
| Other designers | Peter Roy |
The Brisbane Powerhouse is a cool place for arts and culture in Brisbane, Australia. It's located in a building that used to be a power station. Here, you can enjoy live shows, art exhibits, festivals, and free community events.
The first part of the New Farm Powerhouse was built between 1927 and 1928. It was needed to power Brisbane's growing tram system. The power station started working in 1928. It stopped producing power in 1971. After a big renovation, it reopened in 2000 as a modern entertainment spot.
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History of the Brisbane Powerhouse Building
The Brisbane Powerhouse sits on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. It was once a very important power station.
Building the New Farm Powerhouse
The original New Farm Powerhouse was designed by an architect named Roy Rusden Ogg. The Brisbane City Council asked for it to be built. It started providing electricity in June 1928. This was the first power station in Brisbane run by the city council. Before this, private companies supplied power.
The New Farm Powerhouse supplied all the electricity for the city's tram network. It could produce a lot of power, enough for many homes and businesses. As Brisbane grew, more areas got their electricity from this powerhouse.
Changes in Ownership and Use
In 1961, the Government of Queensland decided that one group should manage all electricity in South East Queensland. So, in 1963, the City Council sold the New Farm Powerhouse. It was bought by the Southern Electrical Authority, which was part of the Queensland Government.
In 1967, the city decided to switch from trams to buses. The last tram in Brisbane ran in 1969. Because of this, the powerhouse was no longer needed. It stopped operating in 1971. It became empty and run-down. The Swanbank Power Station then became the main electricity supplier for the region.
For about 20 years, the building was used for different things. It was a storage place for chemicals and even used by the Australian Defence Force for training. During this time, many people visited the empty building. Some left their names and art on the walls. Photographers and filmmakers also used the unique space for their projects. In 1989, the Brisbane City Council got the building back.
Architecture and Renovation of the Powerhouse
The Brisbane Powerhouse building has three main parts: the boiler house, the switch house, and the turbine room. Most of the building stayed the same, even though part of the Boiler Room was taken down in 1984. The building was built in stages using strong brick walls.
Transforming into an Arts Venue
When the Brisbane City Council got the building back in 1989, they saw its potential. They wanted to turn it into an arts center. Architect Peter Roy was chosen to lead this project. Roy and his team made some big changes. They removed parts of walls and fixed the roof of the Turbine Hall, which was in bad shape. They also created clearer spaces inside the building.
They even reused materials from damaged parts of the building in other areas. Some original features from its power station days are still there, like a large crane and a switch. The graffiti left on the walls by previous visitors was also kept. These elements make the Powerhouse a truly unique place.
The newly renovated building opened its doors in May 2000. It now blends its 1920s history with modern culture.
Further Improvements in 2006
In 2006, the Brisbane Powerhouse got another big upgrade. With help from the Brisbane City Council, which invested A$3.5 million, the Powerhouse improved its facilities. This included better places to eat and drink, upgraded performance areas, and more outdoor spaces for events.
The Powerhouse Today: A Hub for Arts
Today, the Powerhouse is a busy arts center with many different spaces. It has:
- The Powerhouse Theatre, which can seat 536 people.
- The Visy Theatre, which seats 200 people.
- The Turbine Hall.
- An outdoor plaza and green spaces.
- A rooftop terrace.
- A bar and a restaurant.
- It even hosts weekend farmers' markets!
The Powerhouse Theatre can be set up in different ways. This means it can have more seats or more space for performers, depending on the show. The venue continues to support new art projects. It also offers workshops for kids and the community. You can even hold special events there, like weddings or birthday parties.
World Theatre Festival at the Powerhouse
From 2010 to 2016, the Powerhouse hosted the World Theatre Festival every year. The 2016 festival, for example, featured 12 events over nine days in February.
This festival was known for showing modern performances. It included artists from all over the world, like Belarus Free Theatre, Gob Squad (from the UK and Germany), and Colman Domingo Productions (from the USA). Australian groups like Marrugeku and Snuff Puppets also performed. Artists from Ireland, New Zealand, Malaysia, Italy, India, and Belgium also took part.
See also
