1882
Electricity first comes to Brisbane
Barton, White & Company’s Powerhouse in Edison Lane, Brisbane, c.1889. The Company became the first to provide a public supply of electricity in Queensland.*
1893
The small western town of Thargomindah was reported as being the first town in Queensland to establish, rather than demonstrate, electric street lighting.
Thargomindah’s Hydro-Electric Powerhouse*
Inside Thargomindah’s Hydro-Electric Powerhouse
1896
Queensland government introduced the Electric Light and Power Act to regulate the supply of electricity to Queenslanders.
First powerhouse built in Ann Street by the Brisbane Electric Supply Company
1898
Delivery of the first boilers for BESCO’s Ann Street Powerhouse c1898
1904
The number of electricity suppliers within Brisbane had grown to fourteen, including the City Electric and Light Company. City Electric Light Company’s Powerhouse in Ann Street Brisbane.
Brisbane Electric Supply Company letterhead
Staff at the City Electric and Light Company, Brisbane
1910
Workers at the City Electric and Light Company, Brisbane
1912
First regional powerhouse comes on board in Warwick
1915-1919
Between 1915-1919, several regional areas saw the progression of electricity.
- 1915 – electricity introduced to Barcaldine
- 1917 – Ipswich Electric Supply Company created and the first electric street lighting had been installed in Alice, Mary, Margaret, Charlotte and Albert Streets.
- 1919 – Murwillumbah Power Station built
- 1921: Longreach Powerhouse
- May 1922: Hubert’s Well, Townsville
- 1922: Home Hill Powerhouse
- 1924: Goondiwindi Town Council inaugurated the electricity supply for the town
- 1925: Cairns Switch-On
- 1925: Kingaroy
1925
Kingaroy powerhouse switches on 1925
- The newly formed Brisbane City Council established the Electricity Department, which acted as a central authority guiding the provision of electricity throughout the city.
- CEL had become the dominant supplier for Brisbane, with the company servicing 12,054 customers in 1925.
1926
Construction of the first powerhouses in New Farm and Bulimba
Construction of the new Boiler house at the New Farm Power station
City Electric Light Company powerhouse
1927
- The Winton Electric Authority was inaugurated by the Winton Shire Council.
- Toogoolawah received electricity from Nestles
- Nambour switch-on
Nestles Condensary Toogoolawah
Nestles Condensary Workers Toolgoolawah
1934
Barron Falls Scheme in the Far North led to the creation of the Barron Falls Hydro-Electricity Board
Taking materials to the construction site of Barron Falls using overhead cable
Other regional locations to introduce electricity in the early 1930s included: Charters Towers; Killarney; Nanango; Wondai; Allora; Dayboro
1939 – 1945
World war II – precautions were taken to protect power stations
- Round-the-clock air raid spotters on call
- Sand bags brought in
- Bespoke igloo shaped bunkers were built to protect power stations
- Chimney stacks were painted in camouflage colours
1940
- City Electric & Light Company and Brisbane City Council are given control of the electricity supply for all of Brisbane.
- Learning from a trial during the war, the Bulimba and New Farm powerhouses become interconnected. This is the first interconnection between two major generators, increasing the resilience of the network.
1945 – 1949
- Cherbourg receives electricity
- Toowoomba Electric Light Company (TELCo) is formed
1950
- First electrical showroom opens in Brisbane city selling electrical appliances
- Within one year of opening, demand for electricity has sky-rocketed and sixteen more showrooms open
Demand for electricity increases as cities and towns across Queensland light up
Staff busy in Brisbane’s Bulimba B Boiler room
1952-1954
- The Queensland government uses its powers to convert the City Electric and Light Company into a public authority and CEL became the Southern Electric Authority of Queensland (SEAQ).
- The SEAQ in turn became the South East Queensland Electricity Board (SEQEB) and then, more recently, Energex.
- Central Generating Station to be completed post-war was at Rockhampton with the Townsville Power Station coming on line in 1953.
- More regions connect, including: Darling Downs; Quilpie; Richmond; Charleville; Aramac; Muttaburra; Abermain; Bribie Island; Blackbutt; Emu Park
Rockhampton Power Station
Turbine room at the Bulimba B Power Station
Lowering the alternator in position at Bulimba B powerhouse
1974
Natural disasters strike Australia
Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin, we’re a part of the rebuild of the electricity distribution network.
Floods strike Brisbane keeping electrical crews busy in disaster response.
1995
Energex is formed as the south east Queensland electricity distribution network.
1999
Ergon is formed by the Queensland Government, from the then six regional Queensland electricity distributors and their subsidiary retailers.
2016
Queensland state-owned power companies Ergon, Ergon Retail, and Energex join together, and Yurika is created.
Powering possibility into the future
*Images courtesy of Queensland Energy Exhibition Centre