Electrona, Tasmania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Electrona Tasmania
Electrona Location in Tasmania
Population	364 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	7054
Location	12 km (7 mi) S of Kingston
LGA(s)	Kingborough
Region	Hobart
State electorate(s)	Franklin, Clark
Federal Division(s)	Franklin, Clark
Localities around Electrona: Margate Margate, Barretta North-West Bay Margate Electrona North-West Bay Margate, Snug Snug North-West Bay

Electrona is a small town in Tasmania, Australia. It is located in the Kingborough area, which is part of the Hobart region. Electrona is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of the town of Kingston. In 2016, about 364 people lived there.

Electrona is a residential area found on the d'Entrecasteaux Channel in southern Tasmania. The town grew because of the Electrona Carbide Works, a factory built there in 1909.

History of Electrona

Electrona officially became a town in 1965. Its name comes from the 'Electrona Carbide Works' factory. This factory was the first in Tasmania to use a process called electrolysis, which uses electricity to make chemicals like carbide.

Building the Carbide Works

Around 1908, a man named James Gillies started talking with the government. He wanted to build a hydroelectric power scheme at Great Lake. This scheme would use water to create electricity. Gillies needed this power for his new way of smelting zinc and for a factory making calcium carbide.

Construction of the factory began near Snug, Tasmania in 1917. After World War One, the Electrona Carbide Works started making "carbide." They used lime (from limestone), coke, and special electric furnaces called electric arc furnaces. The carbide was then used to make acetylene gas. Gillies chose the name Electrona because of the electricity and electrodes used in the smelting process.

Changes in Ownership

At its busiest in the 1960s, the factory employed around 250 people. However, James Gillies faced financial problems and couldn't finish all his electricity projects. He lost control of the hydroelectric scheme to a government department called the Hydro Electric Department. This department later became Hydro Tasmania.

In 1924, Gillies' company went into financial trouble. The Carbide Works was taken over by "the Hydro." Later, a company called Electrona Carbide Industries Pty Ltd ran the factory into the 1980s.

Factory Closure

The factory was badly damaged by the 1967 bush fires. Also, people started needing less carbide. In 1979, the factory had big financial losses. Because of these problems, the carbide factory was sold to Pioneer Silicon Industries Pty Ltd.

This new company changed the factory to make silicon metal starting in 1988. They hoped to produce 10,000 tonnes of silicon each year. However, the factory never made a profit. In August 1991, the plant finally closed down.

Geography

The waters of North-West Bay form the eastern edge of Electrona.

Roads

The main road that goes through Electrona from north to south is called Route B68, also known as the Channel Highway.

Electrona Today

Today, Electrona is home to some small businesses. It also has a residential area called Peggy's Beach, where people live.