Longreach Powerhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Longreach Powerhouse |
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Longreach Powerhouse, 1998
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| Location | 12 Swan Street, Longreach, Longreach Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1921 |
| Official name: Longreach Powerhouse (former), Longreach Powerhouse Museum | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 24 June 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601541 |
| Significant period | 1921-1985 (historical) 1921 - ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | shed/s, pond/s - cooling, views to, machinery/plant/equipment - utilities - gas/electricity supply, swimming pool, workshop, urban services - electricity/gas/water supply/sewerage |
| Builders | Edward and Martin |
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The Longreach Powerhouse is an old power station in Longreach, Australia. It used to make electricity for the town and nearby areas. Today, it's a museum called the Longreach Powerhouse Museum. It was built in 1921 by Edward and Martin. This important building is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Contents
How Longreach Got Electricity
The Longreach Powerhouse started making electricity in 1921. It was first run by the local council, the Longreach Shire Council. Later, in 1966, bigger electricity boards took over. The powerhouse was built by Edward and Martin, with engineer Norman White helping. It was ready by September 1921.
Longreach had some electricity as early as 1908. The Longreach Hotel had it from the City Electric Light Company. In 1916, the Longreach Shire Council started looking into getting electricity for the whole town. They asked Norman White to check the costs. He thought it would be about £10,000.
Getting the Powerhouse Built
After many talks, the Council asked the government for a loan. They were first told no because the government had money problems. But the Council and townspeople kept trying. Finally, in October 1919, they got £16,000. The cost had gone up quite a bit!
Some people wondered if electricity was the best idea. They thought the town needed better drainage or water systems more. One group even wanted a swimming pool built instead. But the Council decided to go ahead. They got permission to create electricity on 15 July 1920. Norman White was hired to oversee the building work.
Choosing the Best Location
The Council picked a spot on the town's recreation land. It was across from the school and near the artesian bore (a deep water well). This spot was chosen for two main reasons. First, the engines needed a lot of water to stay cool. Second, the electricity made was direct current. This type of electricity doesn't travel far. So, the power station had to be close to the homes and businesses that would use it.
By December 1920, they asked companies to bid on supplying machines, poles, and wires. These first bids didn't work out. New plans were made and bids were asked for again in March 1921.
Building the Powerhouse
By April 1921, the building's foundations were poured. The engines, which were Ruston and Hornsby charcoal gas units, were expected soon. They got 200 poles from the Clermont area. The building work by Edward Morton Limited went well. By September, the Council approved a payment of £695 for the building and concrete work. They also noted that the project was now expected to cost £19,000, which was more than planned.
In November, the Council learned there were problems with installing the engines. They didn't know when the powerhouse would start. They asked the government for more money, first £5,000, then £6,000. On 12 December 1921, a man named John Edward Lloyd Jones agreed to supply wood and charcoal for the powerhouse.
Powerhouse Opens and Grows
The powerhouse officially started operating by January 1922. The Council looked for a manager and asked Edward Martin to fix some concrete that was damaged by engine vibration. They also decided to wire the Shire Office for electricity. Three people were even going to be charged for connecting to the electricity illegally!
The powerhouse site grew over time. It first included the powerhouse, swimming baths, and the town bore. The boundaries of the land were changed several times as the power station got bigger. For example, in 1938 and 1943, parts of the recreation land were used for extensions. By 1958, all the recreation land was needed for the powerhouse. This meant four tennis courts had to be moved to the showgrounds.
When the Central West Regional Electricity Board took over in 1966, the land was changed again. Most of it became land for electricity, while the Council kept the part with the bore.
Electricity Demand Increases
The powerhouse grew because more and more people needed electricity. When it first opened, it mostly supplied power for lights. In the 1940s, demand went up a lot. This was because of a new hospital and upgrades to the Longreach aerodrome. The United States Air Force helped upgrade the airport during World War II. American forces were based in Longreach from May to July 1942. They flew from Longreach to fight in the battle of the Coral Sea.
By the 1960s, the powerhouse supplied electricity to other towns and farms. In 1977, the Capricornia Regional Electricity Board took over. The power station kept making electricity until 1985. That's when Longreach and the area were connected to the main statewide electricity grid.
Changes to the Buildings
Since 1921, the powerhouse buildings changed a lot to handle more power. The first powerhouse was made of timber and covered with corrugated galvanised iron. This iron was used for most new buildings and additions. In 1934, a workshop was added. Four years later, a bathroom was built, and the gas producer area was extended.
Until 1947, there was enough room inside the main building for new engines. But when the National FA7 engine was bought, it was placed outside and covered by a skillion roof (a single-sloping roof).
In 1951, a separate building was needed for the coal-fired gas producers. In 1954, this building was extended for a second unit. At the same time, the main building's roof was changed to fit an inside mobile crane. The building was also extended 7 metres (about 23 feet) to fully cover the FA7 engine.
In the 1960s and 70s, more additions were made as new equipment was installed. The main building was extended twice for the Mirrlees engines in 1966 and 1973. In 1962, the producer building doubled in size for a fourth gas producer. Other buildings, like a garage and a heavy equipment store, were also built. A new office was added in 1966.
The land used by the Longreach Powerhouse is much smaller now. From 1958, the whole recreation area was needed for fuel storage (oil and coal) and for cooling ponds.
Becoming a Museum
The powerhouse stopped making electricity in 1985. After that, the land was divided up. In 1989, the Longreach Shire Council bought the powerhouse and some land. They wanted to turn it into a museum. The Longreach Powerhouse Museum Association started in February 1994. The Longreach Powerhouse Museum opened in September 1994.
What the Powerhouse Looks Like
The Longreach Powerhouse Museum today includes the main power-making buildings, engine annex, gas production sheds, and the CAPELEC office and store.
The powerhouse is made of many large, connected corrugated galvanised iron sheds. They have timber frames. Inside are the engine room (built 1921, with parts added later), the gas producer room (built 1921, with many extensions), a workshop (1934), and bathrooms (1938). The office and store were built in the mid-1960s.
The engine room and its annex, along with the gas producer room, are built in two different ways. The engine room has a timber frame with a special roof structure. Its walls and roof have been replaced in some parts. The bathroom area is also timber-framed and covered in corrugated iron outside. The workshop, built in 1934, is timber-framed with a trussed roof and corrugated iron. The gas producer rooms are different. They have large timber posts set into the ground. A timber frame is attached to these posts. The building is covered with corrugated iron. The roof is supported by strong hardwood poles.
Inside, you can see ten engine sets and gas producers. The corrugated iron covering is attached to a timber frame on huge timber posts. The roof structures are very large, using special "king" and "queen post" designs.
The separate office and store were built in the mid-1960s. To the east of this building, you can still see where the cooling pond was. This pond used to be the town's swimming baths.
Why the Powerhouse is Important
The former Longreach Powerhouse is a special place. It shows how electricity was first made in Longreach and how the industry grew. It also shows that making electricity used to be a local job. The size of the powerhouse from 1921 to 1985 shows how important the local council was in providing electricity to the town.
Unique History
The engines and equipment still there are very important. They show the first time coal-fired gas producers were used to make electricity in Australia. This equipment was made just for the Longreach Powerhouse by a company in Melbourne.
Landmark in Longreach
The old Powerhouse is an important landmark for the town. It helps people understand the history of the area.
Community Connection
The site of the Longreach Powerhouse was first used for fun, like tennis courts and a swimming pool. Later, it became the source of the town's electricity. This changed people's lives forever. Because of this, the powerhouse has a strong connection with the people of Longreach.
Engineering Award
The power station received an Engineering Heritage Marker from Engineers Australia. This is part of their program to recognize important engineering achievements.
