Electrical Substation

Statement of Significance

The No 3 Electrical Substation (former), 159 Keightley Road, Shenton Park, is of cultural heritage significance: • As a place that was purpose built in 1923 for the provision of electricity to consumers by a Municipal authority, which was relatively uncommon after the establishment of East Perth Power Station and the centralization of the provision of electricity by the State government from c.1914; • As a rare remnant component of the early electricity transmission network in Western Australia, both individually and, more importantly, collectively with the Former No 1 and No 2 Substations; • For its association with Walter Reynolds Groom (1870-1952) who, as Subiaco’s electrical engineer, managed the electricity supply service from its establishment in 1903 until his retirement in 1939. In this position Groom was responsible for the operation of the electricity supply and the development of related services, such as street lighting. • For its association with the compulsory acquisition of Subiaco’s electricity supply services by the State Electricity Commission in 1951, and the subsequent provision of £120,000 compensation money, plus interest, in 1953 - which contributed directly to the building of a new civic centre.

Physical Description

The No 3 Electrical Substation (former) was constructed in a utilitarian style suited to its function. Key elements of the current place include: Former Substation • Simple rectangular floor plan; • High eaves; • Stretcher-bond, face brick walls; • Gabled roof; This is clad with corrugated metal sheeting and carries solar panels along the western face. The style of the building, and comparison with the No 1 Substation in Hay Street, suggests that it may have originally had a terracotta tiled roof. • Central entrance to the main (north) elevation, featuring double doors shaded by a simple raked awning, clad with corrugated metal sheeting; This is similar to the detailing of the No 1 Substation in Hay Street, although that place has traditional timber boarded doors fitted with large louvered vents, a concrete ramp and terracotta tiles to the awning. • Eight small square window openings set out in two rows along the west elevation; • Rendered panel to the gable end of main façade, with 3 circular marks showing the former location of the high voltage insulators which provided the electrical input to the substation; A similar detail can be seen at both the No 1 and No 2 substations, although both of those places still include examples of the insulators. • Fourteen small circular holes near the eaves on the west elevation, through which the reduced voltage cables exited the building. A similar detail can be seen at both the No 1 and No 2 substations. • Bank of 6 terracotta vents to the west elevation. A similar detail can be seen at both the No 1 and No 2 substations. Residential additions • Simple, two storey, rectangular forms abutting the east and south elevations of the former substation; • Flat parapets to the street frontages; • Flush panel walls; • Single storey additions at the rear. The front yard has been laid out as a domestic garden with a low, timber-framed corrugated metal fence. Shrubs along the western side form an informal hedge. The surrounding residential streetscape is mixed with both contemporary houses (many with large additions) and modern infill.

History

In the early twentieth century the Municipality of Subiaco decided to develop its own direct current (DC) power supply for street lighting and private use. The Subiaco Municipal Power Plant was erected in 1903, on a site leased from the West Australian Railways, near the Axon Street Railway Crossing. It commenced operations in August, and its establishment, which was regarded as progressive, was a source of civic pride. Demand quickly exceeded supply and the service was progressively expanded. By 1912 the State government began to take responsibility for the provision of electricity in the metropolitan area. Small individual power stations were decommissioned in favour of centralisation, and the East Perth Power Station was opened in c.1914. Subiaco, however, continued to maintain its own service. By the beginning of the 1920s, the Axon Street power station was no longer adequate. It was then decided that the most economical option was to purchase electricity in bulk from the State government and transform it within the Municipality for on-sale to consumers – requiring a change over to the alternating current (AC) system. As part of this process three new substations (more accurately referred to as step-down transformers) were proposed to serve the municipality. Lot 1 on deposited plan 2374 (on the south-east corner of Keightley and Derby Roads) was transferred to the Subiaco Municipality in August 1922, for the purpose of the No 3 Substation. The No 1 Substation was located at 195 Hay Street and the No 2 Substation (which also housed the Subiaco Municipal Light Supply Office) at 239 Rokeby Road, adjacent to the Council Chambers. The three sub-stations had all been completed by mid-1923, operating with aerial conductors and transforming the electricity supply from 6000 volts to consumer usage levels. To meet the needs of the growing suburbs, a fourth sub-station was erected on the corner of Hay and Price Street, Jolimont, in 1927-28. These sub-stations were all designed by the city’s electrical engineer, Walter Reynolds Groom. Groom had been appointed as the City of Subiaco’s electrician (later electrical engineer) in c.1903 and he continued in this role until his retirement in 1939. Numerous contemporary newspaper articles attest to his important role in designing and maintaining the municipal electrical and lighting services throughout this period. In 1946 the State Electricity Commission (SEC) was formed in order to regulate the management of the State's power supply and, in 1951, Subiaco’s profitable electricity service was compulsorily acquired. Following negotiations with the State government, Subiaco finally received a compensation payment of £120,000, plus interest, in 1953. In 1954 a percentage of this money was allocated directly to the construction of a new civic centre in Hamersley Road. Ownership of the No 3 Substation was transferred to the SEC in September 1953. A comparison of historical aerial photographs dated 1953 and 1965 shows that extensions were subsequently constructed along the eastern side of the original building and at the rear. Over time, with changing technology, the building became surplus to requirements and, in March 1990, it was transferred into private ownership. The former substation was subsequently adapted and extended as a private residence - retaining the form of the original building, and establishing a clear contrast between this and the large modern additions.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - Medium: The use has been altered, but the original use is still clearly evident through interpretation of the fabric. Authenticity - Medium: The place has been altered as part of its adaptation as a residence, but its original design can still be readily interpreted and understood. Rarity/Representativeness - Like the No 1 Substation in Hay Street and the Subiaco Municipal Light Supply Office and No 2 Electrical Substation (former) in Rokeby Road, this is now a relatively rare component of the early electricity transmission network in Western Australia. Collectively these places are a rare example of a local electricity supply network that was fully developed and maintained by a local government until the early 1950s.

Uses

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