Electricity Substation No. 167 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Electricity Substation No. 167 |
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Electricity Substation No. 167, 93 Parramatta Road, Auburn, New South Wales
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| Location | 93 Parramatta Road, Auburn, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1924–1929 |
| Architect | City Architect; Municipal Council of Sydney (Mr Broderick; 1924. 1929 extensions; WF White) |
| Owner | Ausgrid |
| Official name: Electricity Substation No. 167; #167 'AUBURN' 33KV ZONE SUBSTATION; 'ELECTRICITY SUBSTATION | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 May 2008 |
| Reference no. | 1790 |
| Type | Electricity Transformer/Substation |
| Category | Utilities - Electricity |
| Builders | Municipal Council of Sydney |
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Electricity Substation No. 167 is a special old building in Auburn, Australia. It's a heritage-listed electrical substation, which means it's an important historical site. It was built between 1924 and 1929 by the Municipal Council of Sydney. The building was designed by the City Architect. Today, it's owned by Ausgrid, a company that provides electricity. This substation is also known as #167 'AUBURN' 33KV ZONE SUBSTATION. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 2, 2008, because of its historical and architectural importance.
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A Look Back: The Story of Substation 167
This substation, built in 1924, was designed specifically for its purpose. It was constructed by the Municipal Council of Sydney. This substation was placed right on the edge of where the Municipal Council of Sydney supplied power. Another company, the Parramatta and Granville Electric Company, supplied power nearby.
Substation No. 167 became the main place for distributing high-voltage electricity in this part of Sydney. It was the biggest electrical building in western Sydney at that time. Around 1929, the substation was made much larger. This was because more and more people in Auburn needed electricity. This expansion showed how the Municipal Council of Sydney started supplying electricity to areas further away from the city. Substation No. 167 was very important for Auburn becoming a big industrial area later on. The site was updated in 2007 to make sure it can keep working for many more years.
How Sydney Got Its Electricity: 1904 to Today
Sydney's first power station started working in 1904. The Municipal Council of Sydney was given permission in 1896 to make and send out electricity. They supplied power to central Sydney and even some areas outside the city. From 1904 to 1935, the council's electricity department built hundreds of smaller substations. Many of these are still used today. The council supplied electricity to homes and businesses in the inner city and nearby suburbs. They also provided large amounts of power to outer suburbs like Penrith and Manly.
At first, the council had to compete with private electricity companies. But by 1914, the council had bought most of these smaller companies. One big private company, the Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation (ELPSC), stayed in business until 1955. Then, the government took it over.
In 1935, a new group called the Sydney County Council (SCC) took over the council's electricity work. They were in charge of supplying electricity across the whole Sydney area. The electricity network grew very fast, with 40 to 50 new substations built each year. The SCC was one of the largest local authorities in Australia for many years. In 1991, the SCC became Sydney Electricity. Then, in 1996, it joined with another electricity company and became EnergyAustralia. Today, this is known as Ausgrid.
The Changing Look of Substations: 1904 to Today
Electricity substations were usually built as small one or two-story buildings. Zone substations, like the one in Auburn, were much larger. Over time, the way substations were built became more standard. The first substations were often big and fancy public buildings. But as more were needed, they became smaller and simpler. This was to save money and because electrical equipment became smaller. It also helped build them faster to keep up with demand.
Early substations were often designed uniquely for their spot. But by the late 1920s, most were built using standard designs. These designs usually fit on a normal suburban block of land. Even so, substation designs changed with architectural trends. You can see different styles of substations from different time periods. Some unique substations were still built in the mid-20th century, but mostly in "high-class" suburbs.
From the late 1920s, many more substations were built each year. This was to handle the huge increase in electricity demand. While early substations had unique features, later ones used standard designs. This expansion was about building a bigger electricity grid, not just solving local power needs.
By the 1950s, the idea of having fancy, architecturally designed substations faded away. Instead, simple metal box-like substations became common. Buildings, if they were built, were plain brick structures focused only on their function.
Today, many substations are hidden inside larger buildings or underground. This makes them almost invisible in cities. However, large zone substations and high-voltage switchyards still need big buildings or lots of land for their equipment. Historically, the electricity companies tried to make substations in neighborhoods look nice. An architect even joined the Sydney County Council in 1936 to help with designs.
Updates and Changes Over Time
The Auburn substation has been changed a lot inside over the years. Most of its original equipment has been replaced. For example, it was connected to another substation in Five Dock in 1933.
The original roof, gutters, and drainpipes have been replaced. Two of the entrance doors were changed to steel roller doors. New fences were also added around the site. The equipment in the transformer yard has been updated many times.
A big upgrade happened from 2007 onwards. This was to make sure the substation could keep working for many more years. In 2008-2009, two new sections were added using concrete panels and brick. New equipment was installed there.
What Substation 167 Looks Like
The Auburn Zone Substation is a large, impressive two-story building. It stands out at a major street corner, making it a local landmark. It was built in 1924 and designed in the Interwar Art Nouveau style. This style was popular between the two World Wars. In 1929, it was made even bigger. This made it the largest substation of its kind built by the Municipal Council of Sydney.
The building is made of brick and cement render. The bottom part is made of brick with special "tuck-pointing" (a way of finishing the mortar between bricks). The top part has a smooth cement finish. The old Municipal Council of Sydney (MCS) logo and the words "ELECTRICITY SUBSTATION" are carved into the front of the building. The front of the building is not perfectly balanced. It has a fancy entrance and a sloped roof on one side. The other side has a flat top (a parapet) and a simpler entrance for equipment.
The front of the building shows off Art Nouveau and Art Deco details. You can see Art Nouveau elements in the lettering style and the way the front is decorated. There's a curved top part (cornice) above the main door with decorative pillars (pilasters) and small blocks (dentils). The two steel roller doors are newer additions.
The building is generally in good shape. It has been changed a bit inside and out, but it still looks mostly like it did when it was first built.
Why Substation 167 is a Heritage Site
Auburn Zone Substation No. 167 is very important to the history of New South Wales. It was the main place for distributing high-voltage electricity in this part of Sydney when it was built in 1924.
- Showing History: This substation shows how electricity was brought to areas outside of Sydney in the 1920s. It was the furthest west the council's electricity network reached. Power further west came from a private company.
- Key Infrastructure: It was the biggest early electrical building in western Sydney. It's still used for its original purpose today. It helped Auburn grow into a major industrial area.
- Unique Design: Substation No. 167 is a large and attractive industrial building. It has special Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs on its front. It's a grand example of this type of substation architecture, which usually featured smaller buildings. It's the largest of its style and still looks like an early 20th-century industrial building from the outside.
- Growth and Expansion: The building was made much larger in the late 1920s. This was done to keep up with Auburn's fast growth and the increasing need for electricity.
Electricity Substation No. 167 was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 2, 2008, because it met several important criteria.
A Link to the Past: Electricity's Journey in NSW
Auburn Zone Substation No. 167 is important because it shows how electricity spread to new areas of Sydney in the 1920s. It also shows how electricity supply has continued in this area. Zone substations are like the main hubs of the electricity network. They receive high-voltage power from power stations and change it so it can be sent out to smaller substations and then to homes and businesses.
This substation was the main high-voltage distribution point for this part of Sydney in the 1920s. It was a key part of developing industry in Auburn. It was the largest electrical building built by the Municipal Council of Sydney in western Sydney. Even after many years and upgrades, Auburn Zone Substation No. 167 still does its original job. It's a critical part of Sydney's electricity network today.
People Behind the Power: Walter Frederick White
Auburn Zone Electricity Substation No. 167 is also important because of its connection to Walter Frederick White. He worked at the City Architect's Office for the Municipal Council of Sydney from about 1924 to 1947. While he didn't design the original building, he was in charge of its big extensions in 1929. He also designed other important electricity substations, like those in Bondi (1928) and Randwick (1930). These were fancy buildings designed to fit in with their neighborhoods.
A Work of Art and Engineering
Auburn Zone Substation No. 167 is important for its size and style. Zone substations were much larger than regular substations. No. 167 is a big and attractive building with Art Nouveau and Art Deco details on its front. It's the largest substation of this style built by the Municipal Council of Sydney. This shows how the council tried to make useful buildings also look good in the 1920s and 1930s.
A Rare Find: Unique in Its Style
Auburn Zone Substation No. 167 is important because it's the largest and most complete example of a zone substation built by the Municipal Council of Sydney in the Interwar Art Nouveau style. There are two other similar substations from that time:
- Zone Substation No. 80 in Chatswood (built 1923) is smaller and has been changed more than the Auburn one.
- Zone Substation No. 129 in Hunters Hill (built 1928, located in Gladesville) was similar to Auburn's. But it has been changed a lot, including part of its front being removed and replaced with a brick wall.
Both the Chatswood and Hunters Hill substations are considered important locally.
A Model for Power Distribution
Auburn Electricity Substation No. 167 is important because it shows the main features of high-voltage substations built across Sydney in the 1920s and 1930s. These were built to expand the electricity network. It is the largest and most complete example of its style.
