East Perth Power Station
The East Perth Power Station was constructed between 1913 and 1916 by the WA government at a total cost of £538,000. It was the first State government operated public electricity utility in Australia, and largest power generating facility in the State until South Fremantle Power Station began operation in 1951. It operated for 65 years until decommissioning in 1981.
Originally a coal fired (for a short time oil fired) power station, it is one of the few remaining pre world war one thermal power stations retaining its plant and equipment. The plant contains several generations of generators, spanning almost forty years, and one of the most comprehensive in situ collection of steam turbine generating units in the country.
The power station originally operated on 40 Hz. To accommodate later power supply requirements, a frequency converter set unique in Australia and a rarity in a world context converted the original power station equipment output to 50 Hz.
The power station was important in the development of the State’s coal industry, based at Collie. Coal to fuel the power station was railed from Collie
Coal ash from the boilers was railed across the adjacent WAGR railway bridge and dumped on the site now occupied by the Optus Stadium. The ash trains were originally powered by an electric tramway and one of the electric locomotives is preserved at the Bassendean Railway Museum.
The station was decommissioned and closed in December 1981, as more advanced and cheaper methods of electricity generation made the facility redundant.
Further details on the history of East Perth Power Station can be found on East Perth's Engineering Industrial Heritage.
