Unique IDAY-0010Description*** This activity applies to the City of Sydney only ***
The generation of electric power at power stations.
On 18 December 1890 the Finance Committee moved “That a Committee consisting of three Aldermen and three experts (to be balloted for by this Council) and His Worship the Mayor be appointed to report to this Council upon the cost and advisability of establishing a system of electric lighting for the City of Sydney, the said report to advise as to the best system of street lighting by electricity, the practicability of arranging for the supply of electric light and power to public institutions and to citizens generally for private and business purposes, the cost of establishing an alternative system of supply for the purpose of lighting the streets lanes and parks only, and for the supply generally for public and private purposes and the cost of maintaining such systems in an efficient manner”. [CRS 11/11/210-211].
This Special Committee met from 24 February 1891 to 19 January 1892. [CRS 9/3].
The Municipal Council of Sydney (Electric Lighting) Act 1896 was passed in October 1896 and empowered the Council to generate electricity, establish lighting in streets and public and private places, and supply electricity to private customers. Council established an Electric Lighting Committee in 1898 to consider the best mean of lighting the City of Sydney by electricity and this Committee recommended that the London firm of Preece and Cardew be employed to report on and prepare a scheme for the lighting of Sydney.
A permanent Electric Lighting Committee was formed, along with four other standing Committees, on 13 December 1900. In 1901 the Pyrmont Darling Harbour site was purchased and excavation began for the original power house at Pyrmont in September 1902. Council first switched on electric street lighting in Sydney in July 1904. The large power station at Bunnerong was constructed in the late 1920s. Both were coal-fired steam plants.
Start date26th October 1896End date31st December 1935Relationship legacy dataRELATED TO: Electric power generation and supply FN-0004 (26/10/1896 to 31/12/1935)
