St. David's Road Depot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. David's Road Depot |
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| Location | 11 St Davids Road, Haberfield, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1931 |
| Owner | Ausgrid |
| Official name: Relay Test Centre; St. David's Road Depot; former ELPSC Substation; former Substation No.1518. | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 933 |
| Type | Electricity Transformer/Substation |
| Category | Utilities - Electricity |
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The St. David's Road Depot is a historic building in Haberfield, Sydney, Australia. It was built in 1931 and used to be an important electricity substation. This building helped bring electricity to homes and businesses in the area. Today, it is owned by Ausgrid and is officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its historical importance. It is also known as the Relay Test Centre.
Contents
History of St. David's Road Depot
St. David's Road was first mentioned in 1888. More buildings appeared there in the early 1900s. Before the depot was built, the area was home to businesses like the Australian Building Co. and a grocer.
Timber Yard and Fire
In 1921, a big fire happened at the Australian Timber Company. This timber yard was located near where the depot stands today. The fire was reported by The Sun newspaper. After the fire, the timber company disappeared from local directories.
Building the Substation
The St. David's Substation was built between 1930 and 1931. It was constructed by McIntyre & Cable. This building was very important for electricity supply. It was the second major installation of its kind for the Electric Light & Power Supply Corporation (ELPSC).
The substation had outdoor equipment for high-voltage electricity. Inside, it had switchboards and transformers. These parts helped to manage and distribute electricity to local homes and streetlights.
Later Use of the Building
In the 1960s, the building stopped being used as a main electricity substation. After that, it became a maintenance depot. It was also used as a relay testing centre for the Sydney County Council. This means it was a place where equipment that controls electricity flow was checked and repaired.
The front of the building still shows the words: "THE ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER SUPPLY CORPORATION LTD, SUB-STATION, 1931".
What the Depot Looks Like
The St. David's Road Depot is a large building. It looks like it has three or four floors, but only two levels have windows. It is built in a style called Interwar Stripped Classical. This style uses simple, strong shapes and classical details.
Building Materials and Style
The building is covered in cement render, which gives it a smooth finish. It has a decorative cornice (a molding near the top) and a very tall entablature (the part above the columns or walls). These features go all around the sides of the building. The windows have slightly raised cement sills.
The main structure is made of brickwork covered in cement. The windows have metal frames. Some windows now have wire mesh screens and air conditioning units. In 2000, the building was reported to be in good condition.
Why the Depot is Important
The former Relay Test Centre is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is a great example of a well-kept building from the Interwar period. It was specially designed to help bring electricity to the western suburbs of Sydney.
The building is located in the Haberfield Urban Conservation Area. This area is protected because of its historical value. The Relay Test Centre was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it is recognized as a significant historical site.
Images for kids
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Words on the entablature
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