Unique IDFN-0008Description**This function applies to all Councils***
For Councils other than Sydney City Council, absorbed by the City by 1949, see function FUN 29 for details.
During the nineteenth century street lighting was by the provision of gas lamps, and the service was contracted to the Australian Gas Light Company. The City Council's role was to decide where new lamps should be erected, and to monitor the service generally.
Electric street lighting by the Council was inaugurated in July 1904 and was the responsibility of the Electricity Department. Previously, some electric street lighting on a small scale had been provided by the private electricity companies that operated in Sydney at the end of the century.CreationSydney Corporation Act 1842, ss74, 76-79.
Council was empowered to levy a lighting rate to pay for street lighting, to erect lamps, and to contract with a gas-light company for provision of street lighting.
For municipalities other than the City of Sydney: Municipalities Act 1897 s189 permitted streetlighting by municipal gas works. Some municipalities had special enabling Acts (eg Borough of Redfern Electric Lighting Act 1895). Refer to the function CF 29.AbolitionGas and Electricity Act 1935.
Removed this function from the City Council and created the Sydney County Council as the electric power generation and supply authority (including streets lighting), with effect from 01 January 1936.
