South Fremantle Power Station

I had to make an emergency trip to Garden island last week, fly in fly out, to help a client in WA which meant a trip from airport to Garden island Submarine base (where I stayed over 2 nights) then directly back again.

Of course, I always take the scenic route…

I was driving from Fremantle to Rockingham when I saw an old derelict power station off the road.

All the windows were knocked out, the whole thing grafittied over, right up to the top floor.

Grave signs warned of injury, death and severe financial penalties.

Oh, look, a hole in the security fence…

What’s a man to do?

 Here’s a warning, don’t break the law. I may be away for a while…..

 

Giving the bird to a guard who took this photo with (appropriately) my cellphone

 

That gesture earned me a spell in solitary confinement.

Next to me is a bucket…useful, as I still have to receive my camera memory card, which I swallowed as they arrested me.

Night times are lonely.

 

Hope to see you again…soon!

Fortunately, I managed to get out of jail quickly, and retrieved my memory card.

You can see the old power station on Google Earth at      32° 5’38.83″S     115°45’32.68″E

Or search for McTaggart Cove, North Coogee, WA, Australia.

Here are three images from the inside, from different halls.

In the first image you can see an opening in the wall, just to the left of the post left of centre.

Power Hall, 142x71cm Issue of 25. Canvas print on hardwood frame. USD1000

The second image was taken in the hall leading through from the opening.

The Ball Bearing, 203x102cm Issue of 25. Canvas print on hardwood frame. USD2075

 

Third picture in a section of the large hall right at the far end, where I discovered some great graffiti, and a large shiny ball-bearing which someone left behind.

History: 

Thanks to http://community.livejournal.com/abandonedplaces/1810267.html for the following historical information. This site is worth a visit.

Also see http://wondersofperth.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/the-abandoned-south-fremantle-power-station/ for a great description of what it feels like to stand in front of this abandoned building.

South Fremantle Power Station

Construction of the Power Station commenced in January, 1946. The South Fremantle site was chosen for its relatively close metropolitan population, its proximity to nearby railway facilities for the delivery of coal and the ease with which seawater could be utilised for the cooling system. The four boilers 1, 2, 3 & 4 of ‘A’ Station were fired up in January 1951; the first 25 MW turbo-alternator came on line in May 1951 prior to the official opening of the Power Station on 27 June 1951 by the Hon. David Brand, Minister for Electricity. In September 1951, the second 25 MW turbo alternator came on line. The No. 3 turbo alternator came on line in January 1954, and the No. 4 turbo alternator in December 1954. The power station was then complete with a total capacity of 100 MW.

Much of the plant was designed and manufactured in England, with skilled contractors were sent out from England to assemble the plant on site. The State Energy Commission encouraged the recruitment of staff by providing housing in the Hilton Park area, and the new suburb soon had many community amenities. A bus service from the Power Station to Hilton and Fremantle was provided for shift workers. Over 250 workers were employed at the power station during the 1950s.

In 1954, a major fire at South Fremantle in the coal conveyor from the crusher house caused structural damage and resulted in a switch to oil fuel for the boilers. In the mid 1970s the plant was converted back to coal, which fuelled the station until its closure in 1985. By the 1980s production of electricity at South Fremantle had become uneconomical. The interconnected grid then was supplying electricity from power stations with more up-to-date machinery and closer to the coal source at Collie, Bunbury, Kwinana and Muja.

In September 1985, the South Fremantle Power Station closed after 34 years service and its four chimney stacks were demolished.