Defunct utility companies in Victoria, Australia
Encyclopedia
The Australia
n state of Victoria has a number of defunct energy supply and distribution utility companies.
system from 1906, the network being based upon the suburb of Essendon
. The company also supplied electric power to the neighbouring suburbs from its power station on Mount Alexander Road, near the intersection with South Street. The power generation side of the company was acquired by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
in 1922, with the tram side acquired by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
on 21 December 1922.
and Port Adelaide
, South Australia
. The company was renamed to the Melbourne Electric Supply Company in 1908. The company operated power stations at Richmond
and Geelong
, as well as the electric tramway in Geelong
. The company was acquired by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
in 1930.
company with its headquarters in the English city of Liverpool
. It was formed in 1903 as a subsidiary of the British Insulated Wire Company. The company operated power stations and electric tram
ways in the regional cities of Bendigo
and Ballarat
. The Electric Supply Company of Victoria was acquired by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
in 1934.
. it was absorbed into the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria
in 1951.
in 1857. The company was wound up upon the introduction of natural gas to Ballarat.
in 1858. It was purchased by the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria
in 1971 when natural gas
was introduced to the city.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n state of Victoria has a number of defunct energy supply and distribution utility companies.
North Melbourne Electric Tramway & Lighting Company
The North Melbourne Electric Tramway & Lighting Company operated an electric tramwayTrams in Melbourne
The Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. , the network consisted of of track, 487 trams, 28 routes, and 1,773 tram stops. It was therefore the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the...
system from 1906, the network being based upon the suburb of Essendon
Essendon, Victoria
Essendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
. The company also supplied electric power to the neighbouring suburbs from its power station on Mount Alexander Road, near the intersection with South Street. The power generation side of the company was acquired by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria was a monopoly electricity generation, transmission and supply utility located in Victoria, Australia...
in 1922, with the tram side acquired by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board or MMTB was an authority that was responsible for the tram network in Melbourne, Australia between 1919 and 1983...
on 21 December 1922.
Melbourne Electric Supply Company
The Melbourne Electric Supply Company was registered in 1899 as the Electric Lighting and Traction Company of Australia. It was registered in England, and the company initially operated in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. The company was renamed to the Melbourne Electric Supply Company in 1908. The company operated power stations at Richmond
Richmond Power Station, Victoria
Richmond Power Station is a Victorian era coal fired power station which operated on the banks of the Yarra River in Richmond, Victoria, Australia from its construction in 1891 until its closure in 1976. It was one of the first alternating current electricity generation plants in the state...
and Geelong
Geelong Power Station, Victoria
The city of Geelong, Victoria, Australia was once home to two coal fueled power stations - Geelong A and Geelong B.The first moves to providing an electricity supply to Geelong were made in 1898, with three separate companies vying for the right to operate in the city...
, as well as the electric tramway in Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
. The company was acquired by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria was a monopoly electricity generation, transmission and supply utility located in Victoria, Australia...
in 1930.
Electric Supply Company of Victoria
The Electric Supply Company of Victoria was a BritishUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
company with its headquarters in the English city of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. It was formed in 1903 as a subsidiary of the British Insulated Wire Company. The company operated power stations and electric tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
ways in the regional cities of Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
and Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
. The Electric Supply Company of Victoria was acquired by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria was a monopoly electricity generation, transmission and supply utility located in Victoria, Australia...
in 1934.
Metropolitan Gas Company
The Metropolitan Gas Company was set up for the supply of town gas to the city of MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. it was absorbed into the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria
Gas and fuel corporation of victoria
The Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria was a government-owned monopoly supplier of household gas in Victoria, Australia.In 1951, the Victorian government took over two of the three main gas utilities in Melbourne - the Metropolitan Gas Company and the Brighton Gas Company...
in 1951.
Ballaarat Gas Company
The Ballaarat Gas Company was set up to supply town gas to the city of BallaratBallarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
in 1857. The company was wound up upon the introduction of natural gas to Ballarat.
Geelong Gas Company
The Geelong Gas Company was set up to supply town gas to the city of GeelongGeelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
in 1858. It was purchased by the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria
Gas and fuel corporation of victoria
The Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria was a government-owned monopoly supplier of household gas in Victoria, Australia.In 1951, the Victorian government took over two of the three main gas utilities in Melbourne - the Metropolitan Gas Company and the Brighton Gas Company...
in 1971 when natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
was introduced to the city.