Origins
Positioned on the northern bank of the Brisbane River, Brisbane Powerhouse was developed from a decommissioned power station.
The original New Farm powerhouse, designed by Architect Roy Rusden Ogg and commissioned by the newly formed Greater Brisbane City Council, went into service as the first council-operated power station built in Brisbane in June 1928. Earlier power stations in Brisbane had been operated by private companies. The New Farm powerhouse supplied electricity for the whole tramway network, as well as power and lighting loads for the suburbs of Yeerongpilly, Toowong and Ithaca. As Brisbane grew more suburbs drew their electrical power from the powerhouse. The commercial areas and older suburbs of Brisbane drew their electricity from a private power generating company called the City Electric and Light Company, whose powerhouses were located on the Bulimba Reach of the Brisbane River.
The Government of Queensland decided that there should be one electrical authority for South East Queensland in 1961. In 1963 the City Council sold the New Farm powerhouse to the Southern Electrical Authority.
Following a change in Council transport policy in 1967 the tram system was converted to bus operation and the last tram in Brisbane finally operated on 13 April 1969. The powerhouse was decommissioned in 1971 becoming derelict due to declining workloads and increasing maintenance costs. Swanbank Power Station became the region's main supplier of electricity. For approximately 20 years the building was used as a works depot, chemical store by the Queensland Government and by the Australian Defence Force for military exercises.
The building was also used by homeless people for shelter and by street kids for parties and gatherings, with some leaving reminders of themselves; dates, words, their names and art on the walls of the building. These elements contribute to its being such a unique place that photographers and film makers similarly made use of the deserted space filming both commercial and artistic works over the period.
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