Hydraulic Pump Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hydraulic Pump Station |
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Hydraulic Pump Station, 17 Little Pier Street, Haymarket, NSW
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| Location | 17 Little Pier Street, Haymarket, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1889–1891 |
| Owner | Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority |
| Official name: Hydraulic Pump Station (former); Hydraulic Pump Station | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 125 |
| Type | Water Pump House/Pumping Station |
| Category | Utilities - Water |
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The Hydraulic Pump Station in Haymarket, Sydney, is a special old building. It used to be a powerful station that pushed water at very high pressure. This high-pressure water helped run machines all over the city. Today, it's a popular bar and restaurant.
This building was constructed between 1889 and 1891. It's now listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of history.
Contents
Sydney's Power Story
Imagine a time before electric motors were common! In the late 1800s, factories and businesses mostly used steam engines or gas engines for power. But there was another cool way to power things: using high-pressure water, called hydraulic power.
Before 1891, some private companies in Sydney had their own small hydraulic systems. These systems helped operate lifts and hoists in buildings.
How Hydraulic Power Changed Sydney
The introduction of hydraulic lifts completely changed how buildings were designed in Sydney. Before this, most buildings were only three or four stories tall. With hydraulic power, builders could now construct buildings up to eight stories high! This was a huge deal because it meant more businesses could fit into less land in the busy city.
The Sydney and Suburban Hydraulic Power Company was started in 1889. They built the Hydraulic Pump Station on Pier Street, and it was finished in 1891. This station became the heart of Sydney's public hydraulic power system.
The Company's Growth
By 1926, the company had grown a lot. Electric lifts were becoming more popular and efficient. So, the company changed its name to 'Hydraulic Power Electric and Hydraulic Lifts Ltd.' They started installing and looking after electric lifts too.
Later, in 1955, the company split into two parts: "Elevators Pty Ltd" and "Hydraulic Power Pty Ltd." These companies were eventually taken over by a larger group called Lend Lease Corporation in 1960.
Where the Power Went
The Pier Street station was the first and biggest pumping station in Sydney. It was perfectly placed between the city centre and the large wool stores in Pyrmont and Ultimo.
This station sent water at a super high pressure (800 pounds per square inch!) through about 30 kilometres of pipes. This powerful water helped run many things across the city, including:
- Lifts in buildings
- Hoists for lifting heavy goods
- Cranes at the docks
- Bank vault doors
- Machines that pressed wool into tight bales
Water Supply for the System
At first, the station used water from the city's regular water supply. But as more people used the hydraulic system, this became too expensive.
So, a large dam was built near Mount Rennie, which is now part of the Moore Park Golf Club. This dam held millions of litres of water. Water was then pumped from the Waterloo Pumping Station to the Pier Street Station's reservoir. From there, the high-pressure water was sent out to the city.
By the 1920s, more pumping stations were built in places like Woolloomooloo and Pyrmont to keep up with the demand, especially from the wool presses. In 1926, the Waterloo pumping station switched from using steam to electricity.
The End of an Era
The demand for hydraulic power kept growing, reaching 250 million litres of water used each year! In 1952, the steam pumps at the Pier Street station were replaced with electric pumps to try and meet this demand.
However, from the 1920s onwards, electric lifts became much more common. Hydraulic lifts were usually only good for buildings up to four or five stories high. Even though the number of hydraulic lifts didn't grow much, the ones already in use were used more often, so water consumption kept increasing until the late 1950s.
In the 1950s, Sydney started a big building boom. Many new buildings chose electric power. Also, the old hydraulic system needed expensive upgrades. Because of these reasons, the Hydraulic Pump Station stopped operating in 1975.
Building Features
The Hydraulic Pump Station is a beautiful building with a three-story design. It has an Italianate/Baroque style, which means it looks like old Italian buildings with lots of fancy decorations.
Outside the Building
The outside of the building has rich decorative plasterwork. You can see matching pairs of fake windows with fancy columns on each floor. There are also arched windows with decorative moulding. The ground floor has special stone-like blocks called quoins that make it look grand.
A cool detail on the third floor is a fancy railing with a pillar and a stylish sign that says: "SYDNEY SUBURBAN HYDRAULIC POWER ESTD COMPANY 1889". This tells us when the company was established.
Inside the Building
The building still holds two huge cylinders called accumulator cylinders. These were key parts of the hydraulic system. The walls are very thick brick, designed to hold up heavy machinery.
Behind the main accumulator house is the Engine House. It has massive brick walls that support a huge cast iron water tank. This tank is made of large square iron plates with strong ridges inside. Inscriptions on the tank show it was made by "J COATES ENGINEER COLLINS STREET MELBOURNE" and "J ABBOT & CO LD MAKERS GATESHEAD ENGLAND".
The building has been changed over the years. The main entrance is now on the original southern wall, and a balcony and verandah have been added.
In 2002, the outside of the building was in excellent condition. The inside has been renovated, but many original features remain. For example, the floor has been redone, and a new concrete mezzanine (a partial floor) has been added. Even with changes, the building's original facade, internal walls, roof, hydraulic accumulators, and the large water tank are still there. They have been carefully kept as part of the building's new life as a pub.
Why It's Important
The Hydraulic Pumping Station No.1 was super important for Sydney's growth. It was the first and main public supplier of hydraulic power in the city. It helped many famous Sydney businesses and buildings.
This elegant building is one of the few old industrial landmarks left in this part of the city.
The Hydraulic Pump Station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it met several important criteria:
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.
* This station was the first public hydraulic pumping station in Sydney. Its success led to hydraulic power being used widely. * It played a big part in the success of the wool industry in Pyrmont and Darling Harbour in the 1890s. * Hydraulic power changed the building industry, allowing taller buildings and forever changing Sydney's skyline. * The station provided an essential service for almost a century.
- It shows great design or technical skill.
* It was the first and largest hydraulic pumping station in Sydney. * It represents a new technology that greatly impacted building design. * It still has the largest set of hydraulic accumulators and the biggest cast iron water tank in Sydney. * The building's design shows how industrial buildings were decorated in the 1800s.
- It's important to the community.
* Hydraulic power changed how office workers in Sydney lived and worked. * The pumping station is a well-known landmark in the city. * It's one of the last big reminders of the industrial past of the Darling Harbour area.
- It can teach us more about history.
* We have good records of the station's history, especially when it used steam. These records, along with the building itself, help us understand hydraulic technology.
- It's rare or unique.
* It was the first and largest public hydraulic pumping station built in Sydney. * It's the last major reminder of Darling Harbour's industrial history.
- It represents important types of historical places.
* It shows the important role hydraulic power played in developing Sydney's architecture and industry. It was the first and largest public hydraulic pumping station in Sydney.
