Model of foundations for 30000 K.W. turbo-alternator for Melbourne City Council Unknown
C.A. Parsons & Co Ltd (Newcastle-on-Tyne, England)
Registration number
1916145
Artist/maker
C.A. Parsons & Co Ltd (Newcastle-on-Tyne, England)
Title
Model of foundations for 30000 K.W. turbo-alternator for Melbourne City Council
Production date
Unknown
Medium
wood
Credit line
City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection
Keywords
Summary
To the frustration of the State Electricity Commission, Melbourne City Council continued to operate its own generating equipment at Spencer Street Power Station after power from Yallourn became available in 1923. From the early 1940s, the City Council agreed to operate the station as part of an integrated state grid rather than exclusively for its own benefit, with the SEC believing they would be able to out-price and ultimately close the plant with Latrobe Valley Power. However, electricity use boomed in the post-war years while the SEC struggled to keep pace, and the City Council capitalised by more than tripling its generating capacity. This is a model of part of the first of the expansion units at Spencer Street.