Reefton Power Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reefton Power Station |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Reefton power station 1904. The building in the centre foreground is the original power house commissioned in 1888. Water arrives at the penstock in timber fluming on the right delivered by a water-race and tunnel from an intake at Black's Point. The vertical turbine is hidden from view by the powerhouse containing the belt-driven generator. The tail race carries spent water to the river at the left of the powerhouse.
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Reefton |
| Coordinates | 42°7.291′S 171°52.171′E / 42.121517°S 171.869517°E |
| Status | Decommissioned |
| Commission date | 1888 |
| Decommission date | 1949 |
| Owner(s) | 1888 – The Reefton Electrical Transmission of Power and Lighting Company Ltd 1946 – Grey Electric Power Board |
The Reefton Power Station was a very important place in New Zealand's history. It was the first power station in the entire Southern Hemisphere to provide electricity to a town. This happened on 4 August 1888, bringing light to the busy gold mining town of Reefton.
Contents
How Reefton Got Its Lights
Reefton was a thriving gold mining town. People there wanted to use new technologies, like electric lights.
The Spark of an Idea
A man from Reefton named George Rich Wylde visited Australia in 1883. He saw electric lamps invented by Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan. When he came back, he showed these lamps to the people of Reefton. This made everyone excited about getting electricity for their town.
Building the Power Station
In 1886, a company called the Reefton Electric Light and Power Company was created. Before building the power station, they showed off electric lights in four local hotels. This demonstration was a big success. It convinced everyone that electric lighting was the way to go.
How the Power Station Worked
The Reefton Power Station used the power of water to make electricity.
Water Power
Water from the Inangahua River was directed through tunnels and a special channel called a flume. This water then spun a large machine called a turbine. The spinning turbine powered a generator, which created electricity.
Changes Over Time
In 1946, the Grey Electric Power Board bought the power station. A few years later, in 1949, Reefton was connected to New Zealand's main electricity system, known as the national grid. Because the old Reefton system used a different type of electricity, a special machine was installed. This machine helped change the national grid's power to work with Reefton's existing wiring. The original power house building was taken down in 1961.
A Historic Place
The Reefton Power Station is recognized as a special part of New Zealand's history.
Protecting History
On 30 August 1990, Heritage New Zealand officially recognized the Reefton Power Station as a Category 2 Historic Place. This means it's an important site that should be protected.
Plans for the Future
Today, some parts of the original power station still exist. You can even visit them using a walking track. In 2012, a group called a Trust was formed. Their goal is to restore the historic power plant. The first part of this restoration was finished in 2015. This included new signs, protecting the riverbank, and fixing up the walking track. In 2020, a new 4-tonne turbine was delivered as part of a bigger restoration project.
Images for kids
