Victorian Railways Type A Electricity Sub-Station (Former)

1 Market Street NEWPORT, Hobsons Bay City

Hobsons Bay Railways Heritage Precinct

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Hobsons Bay City

Victorian Railways Type A Electricity Sub-station (former), Hobsons Bay Heritage Study 2006

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Description 1

    Victorian Railways Type A Electricity Sub-Station (Former) - Physical Description 1

    The substation at Newport is an example of the 'Type A' design used for the first five substations constructed by the VR as part of the electrification of the Melbourne metropolitan network. It is a giant red brick and stucco cement render Edwardian Baroque/Neo Classical building. Key features include:

    - The division of the facade into three sections comprising:

    - A cement rendered basement with square perforated metal ventilation openings.

    - A face brick lower floor with rectangular window openings having cement rendered voussoirs, and

    - A 'piano nobile' with tall round arched window openings having rendered drip moulds and keystones.

    A rendered moulding separates the lower floor from the main level, and another encircles the building at the arch springing line. The building is topped by a rendered cornice and a brick parapet. (Ward 1991:31)

    - The internal spaces that clearly delineate the functions of the building:

    - The whole of one side is taken up by the machine hall, which is a full height space broken up at the lower level by dividing walls, forming separate bays which originally housed the rotary converters. At one end is a loading bay, originally served by a siding from the adjacent track. At basement level on this side are separate walls to support the heavy equipment; these form a series of catacomb-like rooms.

    - On the other side of the building is the switchgear, housed on three levels in 14 separate cells that once had interlocked doors; each cell was once continuous through all three levels. Various types of switching apparatus was once located on the first two levels, the second level being open to the balcony. At the top level is the bus bar chamber, which provided power to all cells. Stairwells at each end of this section provided access to all levels; the bus bar chamber is reached by steel ladders. (Ward 1991:31)

    Much of the internal machinery and equipment has been removed, however some examples remain along with original signage that indicates the function of particular spaces and equipment.

    - Externally, the massing of the building expresses the internal layout by:

    - The projecting forward of the machine hall to form a separate pavilion, topped by a semi-circular pediment.

    - The switch cell section using brick panels dividing the upper window openings, and has an inset balcony along the side of the building at mid-level; wrought iron balustrading spans between the brick piers. (Ward 1991:31)

    Integrity

    Victorian Railways Type A Electricity Sub-Station (Former) - Integrity

    External Condition

    Good.

    External Integrity

    High.

    Physical Description 2

    Victorian Railways Type A Electricity Sub-Station (Former) - Physical Description 2

    Context

    Adjacent to the Newport Commercial and Civic heritage precinct, this building is part of a series of related railway heritage buildings including the stations at Newport and Spotswood, the Way and Works Building in Melbourne Road and the nearby Newport Railway workshops. (q.v.). The now demolished Newport Power station was an integral part of this vast undertaking, leaving the substations as the sole reminders of this early enterprise.

    Historical Australian Themes

    Victorian Railways Type A Electricity Sub-Station (Former) - Historical Australian Themes

    Moving Goods and People, Railways

    Physical Description 3

    Victorian Railways Type A Electricity Sub-Station (Former) - Physical Description 3

    Associations

    Victorian Railways Way & Works, Merz & MacLelland.

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study

    Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
    Year: 2006
    Grading:

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