Kingston Powerhouse, Former coal-fired power station in Kingston, Australian Capital Territory.
The Kingston Powerhouse is a former coal-fired power station in Kingston featuring substantial industrial brick construction with large windows and a prominent chimney overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. The structure has been adapted to house exhibition spaces, workshops, and viewing areas where visitors can observe working artists.
The power station was built between 1913 and 1915, serving as the first permanent public building in Canberra. It operated intermittently until 1957, after which it was eventually converted into an arts venue.
The building now hosts the Canberra Glassworks, where artists work daily creating glass pieces that visitors can watch being made. The spaces demonstrate how local craftspeople practice glasswork as a living craft within an industrial heritage setting.
The site is located on Wentworth Avenue and provides accessible exhibition areas and workshop spaces for observing artists at work. Plan enough time to watch the artistic processes and explore the various displays at your own pace.
The building once housed a siren that signaled working hours for government employees across south Canberra. This acoustic signal shaped the daily rhythm of the city for several decades.
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