Powerhouse, Brisbane
Encyclopedia
Brisbane Powerhouse is an arts and cultural hub located in the Brisbane
suburb of New Farm
, Queensland
, Australia
. The venue offers an array of performing arts, visual arts, festivals, and free community events.
, Brisbane Powerhouse was developed from a decommissioned power station
.
The original New Farm powerhouse, designed by Architect Roy Rusden Ogg and commissioned by the newly formed Greater Brisbane City Council, went into service as the first council-operated power station built in Brisbane in June 1928. Earlier power stations in Brisbane had been operated by private companies. The New Farm powerhouse supplied electricity for the whole tramway network
, as well as power and lighting loads for the suburbs of Yeerongpilly
, Toowong
and Ithaca. As Brisbane grew more suburbs drew their electrical power from the powerhouse. The commercial areas and older suburbs of Brisbane drew their electricity from a private power generating company called the City Electric and Light Company, whose powerhouses were located on the Bulimba Reach of the Brisbane River.
The Government of Queensland
decided that there should be one electrical authority for South East Queensland
in 1961. In 1963 the City Council sold the New Farm powerhouse to the Southern Electrical Authority.
Following a change in Council transport policy in 1967 the tram system was converted to bus operation and the last tram in Brisbane finally operated on 13 April 1969. The powerhouse was decommissioned in 1971 becoming derelict due to declining workloads and increasing maintenance costs. Swanbank Power Station became the region's main supplier of electricity. For approximately 20 years the building was used as a works depot, chemical store by the Queensland Government and by the Australian Defence Force
for military exercises.
The building was also used by homeless people for shelter and by street kids for parties and gatherings, with some leaving reminders of themselves; dates, words, their names and art on the walls of the building. These elements contribute to its being such a unique place that photographers and film makers similarly made use of the deserted space filming both commercial and artistic works over the period.
Peter Roy was commissioned to create an arts venue from the site. Roy and his team made adjustments such as removed parts of walls, replaced the Turbine Hall roof that had deteriorated and created more defined interior spaces generating another evident phase in the Powerhouse’s history. Original elements such as materials from the eastern wall that was heavily damaged were utilized in other parts of the building. A gantry crane and switch from its power station days and graffiti remain intact.
The refurbished building was opened in May 2000 with additions that appropriate the 1920’s building with today’s culture.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
suburb of New Farm
New Farm, Queensland
New Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
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...
. The venue offers an array of performing arts, visual arts, festivals, and free community events.
Origins
Positioned on the northern bank of the Brisbane RiverBrisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
, Brisbane Powerhouse was developed from a decommissioned power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
.
The original New Farm powerhouse, designed by Architect Roy Rusden Ogg and commissioned by the newly formed Greater Brisbane City Council, went into service as the first council-operated power station built in Brisbane in June 1928. Earlier power stations in Brisbane had been operated by private companies. The New Farm powerhouse supplied electricity for the whole tramway network
Trams in Brisbane
The Brisbane tramway network once served Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia. It operated between 1885 and 1969 and ran on standard gauge track. The electric system was originally energised to 500 volts, and subsequently increased to 600 volts. All tramcars built in Brisbane up to...
, as well as power and lighting loads for the suburbs of Yeerongpilly
Yeerongpilly, Queensland
Yeerongpilly is a suburb of in Brisbane, Australia. It is 8 km south of the Brisbane central business district.Yeerongpilly is derived from the Aboriginal words "yarung" meaning sandy or gravelly or "yurong" meaning rain and "pilly" meaning gully or watercourse.Yeerongpilly grew from an area...
, Toowong
Toowong, Queensland
Toowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
and Ithaca. As Brisbane grew more suburbs drew their electrical power from the powerhouse. The commercial areas and older suburbs of Brisbane drew their electricity from a private power generating company called the City Electric and Light Company, whose powerhouses were located on the Bulimba Reach of the Brisbane River.
The Government of Queensland
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
decided that there should be one electrical authority for South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
in 1961. In 1963 the City Council sold the New Farm powerhouse to the Southern Electrical Authority.
Following a change in Council transport policy in 1967 the tram system was converted to bus operation and the last tram in Brisbane finally operated on 13 April 1969. The powerhouse was decommissioned in 1971 becoming derelict due to declining workloads and increasing maintenance costs. Swanbank Power Station became the region's main supplier of electricity. For approximately 20 years the building was used as a works depot, chemical store by the Queensland Government and by the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
for military exercises.
The building was also used by homeless people for shelter and by street kids for parties and gatherings, with some leaving reminders of themselves; dates, words, their names and art on the walls of the building. These elements contribute to its being such a unique place that photographers and film makers similarly made use of the deserted space filming both commercial and artistic works over the period.
Architecture
The building comprises three sections, the boiler house, switch house and the turbine room. Apart from the partial demolition of the Boiler Room in 1984 almost the whole building remained intact. The building was constructed in stages, externally from load bearing masonry. Through a programme of land exchange in 1989 the Brisbane City Council was able to re-acquire the building. The adaptation potential to reuse the existing structures without detracting from the cultural significance was recognized and architectArchitect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Peter Roy was commissioned to create an arts venue from the site. Roy and his team made adjustments such as removed parts of walls, replaced the Turbine Hall roof that had deteriorated and created more defined interior spaces generating another evident phase in the Powerhouse’s history. Original elements such as materials from the eastern wall that was heavily damaged were utilized in other parts of the building. A gantry crane and switch from its power station days and graffiti remain intact.
The refurbished building was opened in May 2000 with additions that appropriate the 1920’s building with today’s culture.