02 - East Perth Power Station - Turbine Hall C Station_edited_edited.jpg

EPPS Key Events Timeline

1973

The Power System Control Centre is commissioned, replacing the former centre in “B” Station. It oversees power generation and transmission across the south-west grid.
Oct 5 – The Yom Kippur War begins. Arab oil-exporting nations impose an embargo on countries supporting Israel. Oil prices surge 400% in six months.

1970

The Kwinana Power Station is constructed.
Oct 28 – It’s deemed uneconomical to transport coal to the East Perth Power Station from Collie due to its distance. New power stations like Muja and Kwinana, which are closer to Collie and an oil refinery, are far more efficient. East Perth only generates 2–3% of the total output and is mainly used during peak loads

Late 1960s

East Perth Power Station becomes a standby plant, mainly operating during winter peak loads.

1968

Dec - East Perth converts from coal to furnace oil.

1966

Muja Power Station is built 22 km east of Collie.

1963

Plans are announced for the second stage of Muja Power Station.

1962

SEC launches its first credit union to assist employees in financial hardship.

1960

Construction begins on Stage A of Muja Power Station (2 × 60 MW coal units).

1957

May - Bunbury Power Station begins operating with a 30 MW turbine and two 15 MW boilers.
The interconnected grid is formed, linking Bunbury, Collie, East Perth, and South Fremantle.

1956

“C” Station opens with Unit 7 (30 MW).
Wellington Dam hydroelectric station is commissioned, kick-starting the South West Power Scheme.

1955

Oil-firing begins at East Perth following construction of the Kwinana Oil Refinery in 1954 (Energy Capitals: Local Impact Global Influence, p.98)
Apr 21 - A fault between East Perth and South Fremantle causes a metro-wide outage, suspected to be caused by lightning.

1954

Mar 24 – Residents complain of dust pollution from East Perth due to unserviceable cleaners.
Aug 13 - Carpenter Biagio Bartucciotti (35) falls 20ft into a coal bunker, sustaining injuries.
Sept 27 - State Engineering Works wins a tender for water screens (£16,100).

1953

Dec 18 - CA Parsons wins a tender for a 30,000 kW alternator (£538,350); International Combustion wins a tender for 2 x 30,000 kW alternators (£926,940).

1952

Jan 22 – Plans are announced for a larger Bunbury station (200,000 kW).
Feb 11 – A switch failure near the power station causes blackouts.
June – SEC purchases Fremantle Municipal Tramways and Electric Lighting Board.
SEC buys Claremont, South Perth, and Subiaco powerhouses.
Last expansion takes place at East Perth with No.7 generator and modernised coal plant.
Four transmission lines connect South Fremantle to East Perth.

1951

Jan - South Fremantle Power Station opens.
Aug 15 – Two big alternators at East Perth are taken offline for three hours, when a spindle on the outlet valve of the condenser pipe breaks off.
Aug 18 - An alcohol thermometer explodes in a bath of boiling sulphuric acid, causing a chemist and lab to receive first-degree facial burns. Phillip Rappeport (25) and his assistant, Elmo Newman (25), were testing the thermometer when it exploded.
Sept 25 – No.6 turbo-generator breaks down due to deteriorating insulation, causing the stator bars to fail.
Nov 28 – No.6 turbo-generator short circuits and catches fire. Repairs are expected to take three to four months to complete.
Dec 3 – The exciter on the frequency changer breaks down.

1950s

Fly ash from the power station is used to reclaim up to 23 metres of foreshore, as well as in the concrete to raise the Mundaring Dam. There is concern that the fly ash contains 3–4% carbon (p.34).
Workshop facilities are constructed at East Perth for SEC.

1950

Jan 31 – A tube connected to one of the boilers fails, leading to intermittent power cuts across the metro area.
Apr 23 – Frank Hooper (51) is unloading a truck of coal when he falls and injures his leg.
Aug 21 – Apprentice electrician George Markey (18) is struck in the face by an electric flash, resulting in second-degree burns.
Sept 1 – Linesman Robert Edward Williams (33) falls from a ladder at the power station and is rushed to hospital with a fractured right thigh.
Dec 4 – Pressure increases to build a new power station before South Fremantle is complete.

1949

Feb 3 – An electrical fault in the alternator's stator cuts the power supply by half.
Feb 7 – A 12,500kW generator cuts out when its water pump motor trips.
May 21 – A 25,000kW turbo-generator experiences a flash-over on the end windings of the stator, causing the third blackout this year.
Mar 22 – Strike by 800 Collie miners halts coal supply, cutting all power generation.
June 9 – Cabinet approves the purchase of a fourth boiler. Internal Combustion Ltd is awarded the tender.
July 26 – A fault develops in the 12,500kW turbo-generator, cutting one quarter of the power supply.
Oct 15: The No.6 turbo-alternator breaks down.
Nov 4 – A minor fault in one of the auxiliary systems causes a slight reduction in power output.

1948

SEC purchases the City of Perth Electricity and Gas Department.

1947

June 5 – No.1 4,000 kW turbo-generator explodes, scattering debris 160 yards. No injuries.

1946

Feb 21 – Coal supply is running short, goods trains are cancelled.
Feb 5 – Coal shortage causes wide-spread blackouts, interrupting surgery at the Perth Childrens Hospital.
Mar 20 – State Electricity Commision (SEC) is established to take over the State Government’s responsibility for electricity.
May 22 – Main generating plant breaks down.
May 30 – No.5 turbo-alternator breaks down.
July 1 – SEC officially begins operations.
July 18 – Feed pump issues cause supply restrictions.
Nov 29 – Oil burning conversion is deemed too costly for East Perth.

1945

Mar 12 – Fire in the coal elevator duct.
Apr 6 – Power is cut due to a shortage of coal.
Apr 18 – Coal needs to be sourced from NSW to avoid power interruptions caused by the shortage in WA.
May 4 – Coal miners at Collie go on strike, demanding increased wages and better working conditions.
July 24 – Cardiff coal miners go on strike, rain causes work to stop in an open cut mine and a fatal accident at a Collie mine halts work for two days.
Aug 1 – Foreign matter in the coal clogs up the pulverisers, leading to brief power outages.
Aug 14 – Coal crusher breaks down, requiring large pieces of coal to be crushed up by hand.

1944

July 17 – A transformer failure at the power station triggered widespread lunchtime blackouts across the city and metro area. People were trapped in lifts and surgeons were forced to stop operating until power was restored.

1943

Jan 9 – Bartholomew Dorgan (54) falls 25ft from an ash tower at the power station.
Jan 11 – Electrical fitter William Schrader comes into contact with a live oil circuit-breaker and suffers severe burns. Power outage lasts 40 minutes.

1941

Jan 9 - Severe damage to a steam turbine and slight damage to the building.
Jan 18 – Arthur N. Hill is awarded a £3,965 contract to build the office and test rooms, with a six-month deadline.

1940

Feb 24 – British General Electric Co Pty Ltd awarded a tender to supply mercury art rectifiers and switch gear.
Dec 14 – Contracts advertised for office and test room construction.

1939

Jan 10 – A turbine fault at the power station caused widespread power cuts for nearly an hour during the morning commute.
Jan 20 – East Perth Power Station is officially opened via London broadcast.

1938

“B” station begins power generation.

1935

Sept – Foundation work begins for “B” Station, including 710 piles and reinforced concrete construction.
Nov 14 – Victor Booth (28) falls through the roof and dies.

1934

“B” Station is designed with Art Deco architectural features.

1933

Apr 29 – Fire breaks out in the coal elevator casing due to oil and coal dust on bearings.

1932

Government attempts to privatise East Perth Power Station but attracts no interest.

1930

WA Government department is renamed to Western Australian Government Railways, Tramways, Ferries and Electricity Supply, continuing to manage East Perth.