Carrington Pump House facts for kids
The Carrington Pump House is a historic building in Carrington, Australia. It was built a long time ago, between 1877 and 1878. This building was once a very important power station that used water pressure to help load coal onto ships. It's also known by other names like the Hydraulic Engine House or Carrington Hydraulic Power Station. Today, it's a protected heritage site because of its special history.
Quick facts for kids Carrington Pump House |
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| Location | 106 Bourke Street, Carrington, City of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1877–1878 |
| Official name: Hydraulic Engine House and Crane Bases Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10; Carrington Hydraulic Power Station; Carrington Pumphouse | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 25 August 2017 |
| Reference no. | 1987 |
| Type | Harbour |
| Category | Transport - Water |
| Builders | William H. Jennings |
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Contents
The Story of the Carrington Pump House
Early Days: Land and Coal
The land where Newcastle and Carrington are today originally belonged to the Awabakal people. They called the area around Carrington "Onebygamba." It was a low-lying island, often covered by water at high tide. The Awabakal people fished and hunted there.
European settlers started coming to the island in the 1860s. They called it Bullock Island before it became Carrington. At that time, coal was becoming very important in New South Wales. The government wanted to improve how coal was loaded onto ships at Port Hunter (Newcastle's port).
Building a Powerful Station
To make coal loading easier, engineers decided to build a special power station. This station would use hydraulic power. This means it would use water under very high pressure to operate large cranes. These cranes would lift coal from trains and load it onto ships.
The Carrington Pump House was built between 1877 and 1878 by William H. Jennings. The special machinery and cranes came all the way from England. An engineer from the UK even came to supervise setting it up.
The building itself was made from yellow bricks and sandstone. The stone came from Pyrmont in Sydney. The foundations were very deep, using a method called cofferdams to keep water out during construction.
Inside the building were huge machines called hydraulic accumulators. Imagine a giant cylinder with a heavy weight inside. This weight pushed down on water, creating immense pressure. This pressurized water was then sent through pipes to the cranes. Steam engines powered the pumps that filled these accumulators.
How the Cranes Worked
The cranes were built on strong bases, some square and some round. They were very advanced for their time. Each crane operator stood on a platform and used two levers. One lever lifted the coal, and the other swung it around. There was no smoke or shaking, just the sound of water moving through pipes. A journalist at the time even said a child could operate them!
Coal trains would bring wagons to the cranes. Workers would attach the coal hoppers (big containers) to the crane chains. The crane would lift the hopper, swing it over the ship's hold, and then release the coal by opening a bottom door. The whole process took less than two minutes.
The Pump House and its cranes made Bullock Island a busy and important place. It became a "wonder" that many visitors came to see.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the Pump House was updated.
- In the 1890s, a second boiler room was added, and a third steam engine was installed.
- Electricity was introduced in 1891 to replace the gas lights.
- More modern electric cranes were added to the port between 1903 and 1917.
- From the 1930s onwards, the old hydraulic cranes were slowly taken out of service. Newer technology, like conveyor belts, became the main way to load coal.
- By 1967, the last hydraulic cranes stopped working. The machinery inside the Pump House was removed, and the building was used for storage.
- In the 1980s and 1990s, some parts of the building and crane bases were changed or repaired. The roof was replaced with slate, and windows and doors were fixed.
- In 2009, some of the later additions to the Pump House were removed.
What Does It Look Like?
The Carrington Pump House is a large, impressive building made of brick and stone. It has a grand, balanced design. The main part of the building has a central engine room with two tall towers on either side, called accumulator towers. There were also boiler rooms on each side.
The front of the building is very striking. It has a large entrance with steps and big stone blocks. Above the main door, there's a carved lion's head. The windows are tall and arched, with detailed carvings of roses, thistles, and shamrocks (flowers representing parts of the United Kingdom). The roof is made of slate.
The crane bases (Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 10) are square structures made of concrete and red brick. They were the foundations for the powerful hydraulic cranes.
Current Condition
Today, the Pump House shows some signs of age. The brickwork and stonework are worn in places, and some parts of the building have dampness issues. However, many original features remain inside, like parts of the old pipes, engine foundations, and floor grates. The outside of the building, including much of its decorative ironwork, is still in good condition.
The crane bases are also in varying condition. Some have been affected by weather, and a few were changed to be used as mooring points for ships. Crane Base No. 9 is now underwater.
Even though some parts have changed, the building still has its original look from 1877-1891. The tall chimneys that used to be on either side of the boiler rooms are no longer there.
Why is it Important?
The Carrington Pump House and its crane bases are very important to the history of New South Wales.
A Special Place in History
- Pioneering Technology: This site shows how hydraulic and electric power were first used in ports in NSW. It's a rare example of an old coal loading system before modern conveyor belts took over. It was the first of its kind in Australia!
- Coal Industry: It played a huge role in the development of Port Hunter, which became the largest coal port in the Southern Hemisphere. This port was vital for NSW's economy.
- Unique Example: The Pump House is one of only two hydraulic power facilities from the 1800s still existing in NSW, and the only one related to coal handling. The square crane bases are also very unusual and rare.
- Engineering Achievements: The site is connected to famous engineering companies like Sir W. G. Armstrong and Co. and important NSW government engineers who designed and built it. It shows how skilled engineers were in the 1800s and 1900s.
Learning from the Past
The Pump House and crane bases can still teach us a lot. They offer clues about how hydraulic technology was brought from the UK to NSW in the 1800s. They also show how a swampy area was transformed into a major deep-water harbour.
The building's design and materials show the advanced building techniques used to house powerful machinery back then. It's a landmark in Newcastle, reminding us of the city's industrial past and its importance in Australia's development.
