East Perth Power Station, Industrial heritage site in East Perth, Australia
East Perth Power Station is a former coal and oil-fired power plant on the edge of the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia, now listed as a State Registered Place. The site is made up of several large brick buildings with tall chimneys, and many of the original turbines, boilers, and generators are still in place inside.
Construction began in 1913 and the station was running by 1916, making it the first large-scale electricity supplier for Perth and the surrounding region. It kept expanding over the following decades and stayed in operation until the 1980s, when newer facilities took over.
The power station has taken on a new role as a venue for art events, markets, and community gatherings since it stopped producing electricity. The raw industrial spaces, with their exposed brickwork and metal structures, give these events a setting that feels unlike anywhere else in Perth.
Access to the site is limited and usually happens through guided tours or special events, so it is worth checking in advance whether the grounds are open on a given day. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the floors inside the old industrial buildings can be uneven.
Much of the original machinery inside the station has never been removed and remains exactly where it was installed, which is rare for a working power plant that operated for so long. Some of the equipment dates back to the earliest years of the station and was never replaced during its entire operational life.
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