Tennyson Power Station
Encyclopedia
The Tennyson Power Station was a coal-fired power station
in Tennyson, Queensland
which operated between 1953 an 1986. The power station was the second major plant constructed for Brisbane, the first being the New Farm Powerhouse. It had an installed capacity of 250 MW.
Planning for a new power station started in 1946 as plants at New Farm
and Bulimba
had reached capacity. Before the Tennyson Power Station was completed demand for power was exceeding capacity. This led to the successful staggering of work hours and some restrictions on electricity use.
The land on which the power station was built was acquired by Brisbane City Council in 1947 as an ideal site to generate power for the city, due to its proximity to the Brisbane central business district
and both rail and river access from Ipswich
. Construction of the power station began in 1949.
The power plant was fueled by subbituminous coal, brought down the Brisbane River
on barges from Ipswich.
After the power station was shut down, demolition was avoided for many years, partially due to the hazardous nature of the asbestos
used in construction. In 2005, a contract was awarded to the developer Mirvac by the Government of Queensland
to develop the site. The power station was demolished and both the Queensland Tennis Centre and Tennyson Reach apartment complex were built in its place.
Coal-fired power station
A coal-fired power station produces electricity, usually for public consumption, by burning coal to boil water, producing steam which drives a steam turbine which turns an electrical generator...
in Tennyson, Queensland
Tennyson, Queensland
Tennyson is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is 7 km south of the CBD on the Brisbane River.The area was originally named Softstone by James Strong, one of the original settlers, but by 1897 the name was changed to Tennyson. Tennyson is named after the British poet Alfred Tennyson.The...
which operated between 1953 an 1986. The power station was the second major plant constructed for Brisbane, the first being the New Farm Powerhouse. It had an installed capacity of 250 MW.
Planning for a new power station started in 1946 as plants at New Farm
New Farm, Queensland
New Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through...
and Bulimba
Bulimba, Queensland
Bulimba is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is 4 kilometres south-east of the CBD, and is located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River...
had reached capacity. Before the Tennyson Power Station was completed demand for power was exceeding capacity. This led to the successful staggering of work hours and some restrictions on electricity use.
The land on which the power station was built was acquired by Brisbane City Council in 1947 as an ideal site to generate power for the city, due to its proximity to the Brisbane central business district
Brisbane central business district
The Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
and both rail and river access from Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
. Construction of the power station began in 1949.
The power plant was fueled by subbituminous coal, brought down the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
on barges from Ipswich.
After the power station was shut down, demolition was avoided for many years, partially due to the hazardous nature of the asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
used in construction. In 2005, a contract was awarded to the developer Mirvac by the Government of Queensland
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
to develop the site. The power station was demolished and both the Queensland Tennis Centre and Tennyson Reach apartment complex were built in its place.