EPPS Key Events Timeline

1929

• An urgent proposal is made to construct “B” Station, an extension north of “A” Station, but the Great Depression delays progress.

• Mar 15 – Plans are approved to duplicate the latest station expansion, including two large boilers, superheaters, fans, ash and coal handling systems, pumps, switchgear, and cables, estimated at £216,845.

• Jun 20 – Tragedy strikes when Harold Scott, 46, is found deceased in a coal bunker after falling in and being smothered. It takes four hours to remove 35 tons of coal to reach him.

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1928

• Unit 5, with a 12.5MW capacity, is brought online.

• Dec 15: Price for a contract at the power station was found to be increased in order to provide a commission for three public service officials.

 

1927

Mar 31 – Total spending on the power station reaches £894,851.

 

1925

• Dust control improvements are made across the site:

  • “A” Station receives dust catchers for chimney grit.

  • “B” Station is fitted with Lodge-Cottrell electrostatic precipitators on the boiler house roof, removing up to 95% of dust.

  • “C” Station later receives a freestanding version near its western chimney—only its concrete base remains today.

• Mar 12 – Minister for Railways John Willcock announces £44,000 in funding for new plant and equipment. Major contracts awarded include:

  • C.A. Parsons & Co – 12.5MW turbo-alternator and pumps

  • Babcock & Wilcox – Boilers, economisers, ash and coal handling systems, and structural extensions

  • Metropolitan Vickers – Switchgear, transformers, and a 500kW turbine

  • Boiler house extended by three 13.7m bays and raised 7.6m higher.

  • Turbine room, pump house, and switch house extended by two 9m bays.

  • New office space and a control room are built on the east side.

  • A reinforced concrete addition obscures the original east-facing elevation from the river.

 

1924

• May 24 – A new 40-ton electric locomotive, built by Metropolitan-Vickers, begins operating Western Australia’s first electric railway. It hauls coal to the station and returns with ash via a half-mile siding from East Perth rail yards. It’s based on shunting engines used in South Africa.

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1923

• Jan 14 – Plans announced to improve efficiency with coal bunkers, allowing direct unloading from rail wagons. Up to 500 tons could be offloaded in 8 hours.

• Feb 13 – Power station breakdown causes disruption to Perth’s tramway services.

• Dec 31 – Total of £693,523 spent on the East Perth Power Station from the General Loan Fund.

 

1922

• Unit 4 added to “A” Station, increasing capacity by 7.5MW.

• The Railways, Tramways and Electricity Supply Branch is formed under the WA Government Railways to manage the station.

• Mar 29 – Machinery breakdowns cause brief power outages, disrupting trams during the morning commute.

 

1920

• An original cottage on-site is repurposed as the general manager’s office, then later a lunchroom (B4).

• September 30 – Total expenditure reaches £422,025.

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1919

• June 10 – A severe storm causes widespread blackouts and tram stoppages. Power station staff locate the fault 15 miles away.

 

1917

• Mar – Unit 2 begins generating power

• Apr – Unit 3 begins operation, increasing total capacity to 12MW.

• May 23 – Approval granted to build a reinforced concrete (Monier) pipeline from Walter’s Brook.

• Sept 30 – Total expenditure reaches £337,327.

 

1916

• Mar 31 – Spending hits £277,972.

• Dec 3 – Unit 1 comes online; “A” Station begins generating electricity.

 

1915

• June 30 – Expenditure totals £216,893.

• Aug - Colonial Secretary John Drew states that a three-phase current will be used with a frequency of 40 cycles in order to obtain the best economical advantages of the system and that for “for a triple objective for the purpose of supplying light, power for the tramways and electrification of our railways over the Darling Ranges it would be impossible to do it successfully with a 50 cycle system and a 40 cycle was the best system for the purpose” (Bodycoat, 1993 p.58).

• Sept - Merz and McLellan state that the periodicity of the power station cannot be changed from 40 to 50 cycles. It was decided to go with 40 cycles after full consideration of 25 cycle (most suitable for traction) and 50 cycle (most suitable for lighting).

• Oct 22 – Parliament questions Merz & McLellan’s advice, citing poor cost and site estimates.

• Dec 3 – The station is partially commissioned.

 

1914

• Jan – Foundations completed

• Mar - Callenders Cable and Construction Ltd awarded a contract for underground cables and major equipment.

• April 4 – The last pile is driven into the ground.

• June – Construction delays push work beyond original timelines.

• June 13 - Williams and Robinson Ltd and the British Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co Ltd are awarded contracts for machinery and plant

• June 25 - £350,000 is approved from the General Loan Fund for construction of the power station.

• July 23-25 – Workers strike over wages; dispute resolved with a pay rise.

• Aug 4 – Australia enters World War I, impacting equipment deliveries.

• Aug 23 – War halts shipments of key equipment from Germany. Government struggles to trace alternators and switchgear; urgent replacements needed. British Westinghouse steps in.

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1913

• Jan 10 – Merz & McLellan consult on Perth’s power and tramway needs.

• Jun - Babcock & Wilcox Ltd are awarded the contract for constructing the power station and supplying plant.

• Aug – Construction plans are received from London.

• Aug 5 – Government commits £274,000 but oversight leads to cost underestimation.

• Sept – Site prep begins, including piling and foundation work.

• Oct 17 – Construction begins on East Perth Power Station. A massive concrete raft will be laid atop 1,400 powellised jarrah piles driven 30 feet into the ground. The raft will support a 22,000-ton building made of reinforced concrete, rising 80 feet high.

• Dec – German firm AEG wins the contract to supply switchgear, cables, and lighting equipment for the station.

• Dec 13 – An estimated £350,000 is allocated for the station’s construction.

 

1912

• Feb 14 – Perth City Council buys out the Perth Gas Company, forming the City of Perth Electricity and Gas Department.

• Mar 17 – 27 acres of land are acquired to expand and improve the Eastern Railway.

• May – Premier John Scaddan purchases the Perth Electric Tramways Ltd, later confirmed under the Tramways Purchase Act 1912.

• Dec 10 – British engineer Charles Merz recommends building a single central power station for both tram and city electricity, using a 3-phase, 50-cycle, 6,000-volt system.

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1893

Jan 13 – The company expands its services to include electricity supply.

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1883

May 1 – The Perth Gas Company is established on May 1, taking over the assets of the City of Perth Gas Co.

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References

Bodycoat, R., & Richards, O. (1993). East Perth Power Station Conservation Plan. Prepared for the East Perth Development Authority and State Energy Commission of Western Australia.

 

De Burgh, J. (1959). The Development of a State Government Electricity and Gas Supply in Western Australia, p47-49.

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Energy Capitals: Local Impact Global Influence (2014). Edited by Joseph A. Pratt, Martin V. Melosi & Kathleen A.Brosnan. Univeristy of Pittsburgh Press.

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Fact Sheet #2: Site Clean-up and Building Stabilisation Works (October 2004). East Perth Redevelopment Authority.

 

Fact Sheet #7: Draft Masterplan – Community Consultation (November 2004). East Perth Redevelopment Authority.

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Godden Mackay (1992). East Perth Power Station Heritage Significance Assessment. Report Prepared for State Energy Commission of Western Australia. September 1992.

 

Kinhill Engineers (1992). East Perth Power Station Safety Report Boiler House Walls. Report Prepared for State Energy Commission of Western Australia. November 1992.

 

Thompson Palmer (1993). The East Perth Power Station Visual Assessment. May 1993.​