Coordinates: 33.0632°S 151.

5708°E

Wangi Power Station

Wangi Power Station is a heritage-listed former coal-fired power
station at Wangi Wangi, City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales
Wangi Power Station
on Lake Macquarie. The power station operated between 1956 and
1986 and supplied electricity to New South Wales. It was once the
largest in the state.[1] The 12,000 square-metre building was listed on
the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[2]

Contents
Wangi Wangi Power Station, 2007
History
'A' Station - 150 MW Location Wangi Wangi, City of
'B' Station - 180 MW Lake Macquarie,
New South Wales,
Heritage listing Australia
See also Coordinates 33.0632°S
References 151.5708°E
Attribution
Built 1949–1960
Further reading Architect Railways NSW
External links architect (unknown)
& Colin Smith of CH
Smith & Johnson
History Architects
Owner Centennial
In 1946, the New South Wales Government approved the
Fassifern]] Pty Ltd;
construction of the power station on Lake Macquarie at Wangi
Wangi by the New South Wales Government Railways. Wangi Department of
Wangi was chosen for its proximity to a large body of water and Trade & Investment,
coalfields. The power station was officially opened on 7 November Regional
1958 by the NSW Premier, Joseph Cahill, after ten years of Infrastructure &
construction and two years of progressive commissioning of the six Services; IJ
turbo-alternators from C. A. Parsons and Company, which gave it a McDonald Pty Ltd;
capacity of 330 MW.[2] One thousand men camped in Wangi Wangi National Parks and
during the peak construction period. Wildlife Service

Wangi Power Station played an eminent part in relieving New South New South Wales Heritage
Wales of drastic power shortages during the late 1950s and playing a
Register
major role in restoring power supply to New South Wales after the
total state power shutdown of 10 June 1964. Wangi Power Station Official name Wangi Power
was decommissioned in 1986, approximately thirty years after the Station Complex
first turbo-alternator commenced operation.[2] The greater part of the
Type state heritage (built)
generating equipment was removed by the early 1990s.
Designated 2 April 1999
Reference no. 1014
While the generating equipment has been removed, the main Type Electricity
buildings and emission stacks still stand as of 19 May 2019. The site Generator/Power
has been subject to proposals for redevelopment into residential and Station - coal/gas/oil
retail properties since the 1990s.[1]
Category Utilities - Electricity
Builders several
'A' Station - 150 MW

Wangi 'A' Station consisted of three 50 MW Parsons turbo-

alternators. Steam was supplied at 650PSI and 840degF from six
spreader-stoker coal-fired Babcock & Wilcox (UK) (now Babcock
International) cross drum boilers. The firing system consisted of the
Spreader Stoker and Babcock & Wilcox Detroit Rotograte. Rapidly
rotating blades of the spreader feeder unit flung coal of the required
size onto the rotograte, with a large percentage igniting before
landing on the grate. The amount of coal feed could be regulated by
varying the length of the stroke of the pusher plate supplying fuel to
the coal feeder. There were two rotogrates fitted which consisted of
Location of Wangi Power Station in
two endless chains carrying transverse grate bars in a revolving
action. Eight coal feeder units controlled through Reeves variable New South Wales
speed control drive. Each boiler had an output of 180,000 lb/h. It
was a project of New South Wales Government Railways, but control was
transferred before its completion to the Electricity Commission of New South
Wales, which was formed in 1950.

'B' Station - 180 MW

The later 'B' Station, a modified product of the Electricity Commission of

New South Wales, had three 60 MW Parsons units. Steam was supplied by 3
Babcock & Wilcox boilers that burnt pulverised coal. Steam pressure was
950PSI and steam temperature was 950 deg F. It was unit type plant and each
boiler supplied 550,000 lb/h of steam to one turbine only.
The power station under
To reduce visible emissions, the electrostatic precipitators of 'A' Station were
construction
upgraded to shaker-type fabric filters, and those of 'B' Station were upgraded
to high pressure pulse jet bag filters, in 1976. The shaker-type fabric or bag
filter has since become a standard feature of power stations in New South
Wales.

Heritage listing
The Wangi Power Station has highest level State heritage Significance for its association with leading the
evolution of coalfields - sited power stations and power generation in New South Wales. It has similar level
significance for being the largest power station in NSW for at least its first five years of operation. Its pre-
eminent part in relieving NSW from the drastic power shortages and blackouts during the late 1950s and
playing major roles in restoring power supply to NSW after the total state power shutdown of 10 June 1964.
Wangi Power Station was the last of the Railway's power stations to be built, and the last one to close, and
represents the transition from Railways to Elcom as the predominant power generation authority in NSW.[3][2]

Wangi Power Station Complex was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999
having satisfied the following criteria.[2]
The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New
South Wales.

The Wangi Power Station has highest level State heritage Significance for its association with leading the
evolution of coalfields - sited power stations and power generation in New South wales. It has similar level
significance for being the largest power station in NSW for at least first five years of operation. Its pre-eminent
part in relieving NSW from the drastic power shortages and blackouts during the late 1950s and playing a
major roles in restoring power supply to NSW after the total state power shutdown of 10 June 1964. Wangi
Power Station was the last of the Railway's power stations to be built, and the last one to close, and represents
the transition from Railways to Elcom as the predominant power generation authority in NSW.[3][2]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or
technical achievement in New South Wales.

Wangi Power Station has highest level State significance being: aesthetically distinctive, showing creating and
technical innovation, associated with the creative accomplishments of an eminent Architect and for continuing
to act as a prime exemplar of a particular style of Architectural expression. Wangi Power Station is significant
for its intended position as the "showpiece" of power generation in the state. Its position as a show piece was
evidenced by the excellence of its architectural design, by the high quality of workmanship in the brick
cladding, and in the outstanding appearance and quality of design and materials used.[3][2]

The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New
South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

Wangi Power Station has regional social significance.[3][2]

The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or
natural history of New South Wales.

Wangi Power station has state level technical significance because it has unique potential to reveal worthwhile
historical and scientific information unavailable elsewhere and it is a major reference in the state.[3][2]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New
South Wales.

Wangi Power Station is significant as a rare example in Australia of industrial architecture. The building is
significant for its rarity as a modern power station designed and built with its architectural appearance, as an
integral part of its landscape and environment to the forefront of its design parametres, rather than using purely
technological and economic factors to dictate the design.[2]

Wangi Power Station is one of the last major buildings in Australia to have a structural frame of riveted steel.
Further it is significant for its construction method, which incorporated an early use of the "fast tracking idea",
whereby one end of the building was in full production before the other was fully erected.[3][2]

See also
List of coal fired power stations in Australia

References
1. Scott Bevan (21 February 2017). "Wangi icon needing a recharge" (http://www.theherald.com.a
u/story/4482053/uncertain-future-for-wangi-power-station/). The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax
Media. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170928060300/http://www.theherald.com.au/st
 ory/4482053/uncertain-future-for-wangi-power-station/) from the original on 28 September
2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
2. "Wangi Power Station Complex" (http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritag
eItemDetails.aspx?ID=5014146). New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of
Environment and Heritage. H01014. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
3. Wangi Power Station: Conservation Management Plan by EJE Architecture, Jan 2000

Attribution

This Wikipedia article contains material from Wangi Power Station Complex (http://www.enviro
nment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5014146), entry number 01014 in the New
South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment
and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) licence (http://www.envir
onment.nsw.gov.au/help/copyright-disclaimer.htm), accessed on 2 June 2018.

Further reading
Fetscher, Mark (2001). The power makers : the history of the Central Coast and Hunter Valley
power generating stations. ISBN 0-646-41390-2.
Electricity Commission NSW (1960). The development of electricity supply: an outline for
students.
Operators Manual: Wangi 'A' Power Station
Operators Manual: Wangi 'B' Power Station

External links
Media related to Wangi Power Station at Wikimedia Commons

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This page was last edited on 20 October 2019, at 02:49 (UTC).

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