No.2 Substation, Murray Street (State Electricity Commission Sub Station, Electric Light Substation)
No. 2 Substation is part of the legacy of four such buildings in the early provision of electricity to Perth. It was designed by architect, and Perth City councillor, Jack Ochiltree to fit into a residential and commercial town centre without looking too ‘industrial’.
In 1913 the State Government decided to get rid of all the local electric power stations and replace them with one large one at East Perth, which would then sell the electricity to local governments, who would then retail it to consumers. Before this, the City of Perth operated three small power stations within its borders.
The high power which the State Government sold was carried by a ‘ring main’ throughout the city, and Perth was responsible for constructing the substations required to transform this electricity to the levels required by houses and businesses. So, in July 1914, Ochiltree advertised for tenders to erect a three-storey electric lighting substation on Murray Street.
In the early 21st century, safety concerns about possible leakage from the transformers at No. 2 Substation led to the place being stripped of its plant. Today, No. 2 Substation remains unused, but still a prominent building on Murray Street and a reminder when industrial structures were designed with the same attention to detail as the surrounding commercial premises.
No. 2 Substation is part of the legacy of four such buildings in the early provision of electricity to Perth. It was designed by architect, and Perth City councillor, Jack Ochiltree to fit into a residential and commercial town centre without looking too ‘industrial’.
In 1913 the State Government decided to get rid of all the local electric power stations and replace them with one large one at East Perth, which would then sell the electricity to local governments, who would then retail it to consumers. Before this, the City of Perth operated three small power stations within its borders.
The high power which the State Government sold was carried by a ‘ring main’ throughout the city, and Perth was responsible for constructing the substations required to transform this electricity to the levels required by houses and businesses. So, in July 1914, Ochiltree advertised for tenders to erect a three-storey electric lighting substation on Murray Street. The winning tender came from Todd Brothers for £5,522.
In 1923, there was a need for new switchgear, as well as various alterations and additions to No. 2 Substation. This was a result of the unexpected increase in use of electricity across the city, requiring underground cables in addition to the overhead ones.
The power supply from East Perth initially produced current at 40Hz, but after World War II this had become non-standard, and a new power station at South Fremantle (1951) was fitted for 50Hz production. An extensive program converted households for 50Hz current, transferring suburbs one at a time from 1950 to 1959.
In the early 21st century, safety concerns about possible leakage from the transformers at No. 2 Substation led to the place being stripped of its plant. Today, No. 2 Substation remains unused, but still a prominent building on Murray Street and a reminder when industrial
structures were designed with the same attention to detail as the surrounding commercial premises.
West Australian 25 November 1913
West Australian 8 July 1914
West Australian 21 July 1914
West Australian 6 October 1923
West Australian 19 March 1924