1970's Electric Memories
1971: Power Stations decommissioned
New Farm, Abermain and Tennyson Package Plant were decommissioned in 1971.
1971: Changes for Longreach Powerhouse
Coal gas was supplanted by diesel engines in Longreach Powerhouse in 1971. Changes came about mainly due to the increased demand for electricity for the town and the expanding rural network. Generating costs escalated steeply after 1974.
1972: The Half-a-Million Dollar Microwave Tower
The SEA commissioned ‘the most advanced communication system ever used by a Queensland electricity supply authority’. Apart from that operated by the Post Master General’s Department, the microwave system was believed to be the only one in Queensland. The microwave technology provided communication links between the SEA’s key generation and transmission system.
The tower was situated on top of Mount Gravatt and was 117 feet high. It was a team venture and included many of the SEA staff in the design of the tower and its operation. The SEA stated that ‘The resulting design is considered so striking and aesthetically pleasing that it is now flood lit at night’.
1973 Fashion for the SEA women
The women from SEA’s Head Office in Brisbane were wearing ‘slacks’ after the SEA’s new rule allowing the garment to be worn at work.
Comments such as ‘I prefer the mini’ and ‘they’ll be taking over next’ were heard from the male-occupied tables in the canteen at Ann Street on the first day the women arrived in work wearing slacks.
1973: The SEA Builds a Bridge
A major road bridge was designed and built by SEA across a branch of the Caliope River near the Gladstone Power Station. The bridge was a continuous steel girder construction and 280 feet long. It was needed to take trucks with workers, equipment and materials on to an island, which was mostly mangrove swamp. Six platforms had been built on the island to take transmission towers to carry electricity from Gladstone Power Station. The only way across the river before the bridge was built was by boat.
1973: Nudists and the SEA Men
A letter found its way to the Editor of the SEA News from the ‘boys at Boonah’. It was signed by Miss Fifi, Manager of the outdoor Nudist Camp for girls.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to you for the excellent service your linesmen performed last summer.
It was explained to us that the transformer was of a special type that had to be dusted twice daily, oiled once a week, and have the bolts tightened every ten days… I am happy to report that your linesmen stopped every morning and afternoon and spent 15 minutes dusting…
Your crew was always very conscientious in making repairs. On one occasion a crossarm broke on a pole next to the tennis court where some of the girls were playing tennis. Nine men with three ladder trucks worked four hours to repair the crossarm.
Evidently, we have a special type of meter by the swimming pool. The meter reader told us it had to be read twice a week by two men so that an exact average of power could be calculated. One of your meter readers is rather clumsy, because during last summer he fell over two lawn chairs, a picnic table and a garbage can while walking over to check the meter.
I have been assured that all the men will be on the job again this summer…Last summer two men gave up their vacations just to make sure that electrical equipment worked properly.
1974: Modern Lighting Enhances Cathedral
The SEA’s Chief Lighting Engineer was approached to design the lighting ‘for one of Queensland’s most impressive cathedrals – St. Patrick’s at Toowoomba’. In addition to the main lighting, subtle side lighting was designed to enhance architectural details.
The Cathedral is a fine example of Gothic architecture. Built of local bluestone basalt with Helidon stone trims and carvings, it was first opened in 1889 as a church. With extensions and the creation of a new diocese, the church became a Cathedral.
1974: Big Flood
Tennyson Power Station near Brisbane was described as ‘a half-sunken ocean liner rather than a land-bound electricity plant on the banks of a normally peaceful river’.
1975: 275 kV Transmission Line
A 275kV transmission line linked Callide Power Station, near Rockhampton to Brisbane.
1975: Commissioning of Gladstone Power Station
Work on the Gladstone Power Station site is beginning to take shape. The station’s first 275,000 kilowatt turbo-generator was scheduled to be commissioned late in 1975.
1975: Cyclone Tracey
Following the devastating effects of Cyclone Tracey in Darwin, teams of volunteers from SEA travelled to the city to assist with the clean-up and restore emergency power to the area.
The first SEA gang to go to Darwin moved into Stokes Hill Power Station and began to restore the machines and auxiliaries before moving on to the station’s switchyard. Other SEA volunteers helped to restore temporary supply to remaining buildings and houses.
1975: Lights-on for Karara
The small town of Karara in the Darling Downs celebrated the advent of a reticulated supply of electricity to the area with a Switch-on Ceremony and a dance held in the local hall. Prior to reticulation, the only electricity available in the area came from individual home lighting plants.
The supply was made possible due to the SEA’s adoption of a new rural system called the Single Wire Earth Return or SWER system.
The system features a single overhead wire energised at 12,700 volts connected to transformers with 240 volts output at each supply point. The return circuit from the transformer to the source is completed through the ground along the route of the line.
The reticulated supply would enable the 33 residents of Karara ‘to enjoy more domestic appliance such as refrigerators and deep freezers’.
1976: Official opening of Gladstone Power Station
Almost 2,000 people attended the opening of the Gladstone Power Station on Saturday, 18 September 1976, which was conducted by the Premier, Mr. J. Bjelke-Petersen.
The SEA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. I. Dennis, said that reliable and economical power was essential for the well-being of any community. He continued
The Gladstone Power Station was built to take advantage of the latest advances in technology…The cost of building the station has escalated enormously and the cost of fuel has risen substantially…Although we look forward to the benefits from Gladstone, all it will be able to do is decrease the rate of growth of such costs.
1976/1977: Reorganisation of the Electricity Supply Industry
The passing of the Electricity Act in 1976 created new electricity industry bodies to come into operation on 1 July, 1977. Queensland’s generating facilities were placed under the auspices of a new body, the Queensland Electricity Generating Board (QEGB). The Northern Electric Authority ceased to exist. Two new electricity boards for the South East and South West of the State came into being. The South East Queensland Electricity Board (SEQEB) took over from the Southern Electric Authority, and the South West Queensland Electricity Board (SWQEB) became the electricity authority for the South West with its base at Dalby. The other five electricity boards, making seven in all, were the Wide Bay-Burnett Electricity Board (WBBEB) based at Maryborough, Capricornia Electricity Board, based at Rockhampton, Mackay Electricity Board (MEB) in Mackay, North Queensland Electricity Board (NQEB) based in Townsville and the Far North Queensland Electricity Board (FNQEB) in Cairns. It was the responsibility of the electricity boards to distribute electricity to the final users, with extension of responsibility to allow appliance trading, repairs, consumer advisory services and promotion of the safe and efficient use of electricity.
The Electricity Act passed by the Queensland Parliament late in 1976 provides for the most far-reaching changes yet in the industry’s organisation, marking the start of a new phase in the provision of electricity to serve the people of Queensland
New Farm, Abermain and Tennyson Package Plant were decommissioned in 1971.
1971: Changes for Longreach Powerhouse
Coal gas was supplanted by diesel engines in Longreach Powerhouse in 1971. Changes came about mainly due to the increased demand for electricity for the town and the expanding rural network. Generating costs escalated steeply after 1974.
1972: The Half-a-Million Dollar Microwave Tower
The SEA commissioned ‘the most advanced communication system ever used by a Queensland electricity supply authority’. Apart from that operated by the Post Master General’s Department, the microwave system was believed to be the only one in Queensland. The microwave technology provided communication links between the SEA’s key generation and transmission system.
The tower was situated on top of Mount Gravatt and was 117 feet high. It was a team venture and included many of the SEA staff in the design of the tower and its operation. The SEA stated that ‘The resulting design is considered so striking and aesthetically pleasing that it is now flood lit at night’.
1973 Fashion for the SEA women
The women from SEA’s Head Office in Brisbane were wearing ‘slacks’ after the SEA’s new rule allowing the garment to be worn at work.
Comments such as ‘I prefer the mini’ and ‘they’ll be taking over next’ were heard from the male-occupied tables in the canteen at Ann Street on the first day the women arrived in work wearing slacks.
1973: The SEA Builds a Bridge
A major road bridge was designed and built by SEA across a branch of the Caliope River near the Gladstone Power Station. The bridge was a continuous steel girder construction and 280 feet long. It was needed to take trucks with workers, equipment and materials on to an island, which was mostly mangrove swamp. Six platforms had been built on the island to take transmission towers to carry electricity from Gladstone Power Station. The only way across the river before the bridge was built was by boat.
1973: Nudists and the SEA Men
A letter found its way to the Editor of the SEA News from the ‘boys at Boonah’. It was signed by Miss Fifi, Manager of the outdoor Nudist Camp for girls.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to you for the excellent service your linesmen performed last summer.
It was explained to us that the transformer was of a special type that had to be dusted twice daily, oiled once a week, and have the bolts tightened every ten days… I am happy to report that your linesmen stopped every morning and afternoon and spent 15 minutes dusting…
Your crew was always very conscientious in making repairs. On one occasion a crossarm broke on a pole next to the tennis court where some of the girls were playing tennis. Nine men with three ladder trucks worked four hours to repair the crossarm.
Evidently, we have a special type of meter by the swimming pool. The meter reader told us it had to be read twice a week by two men so that an exact average of power could be calculated. One of your meter readers is rather clumsy, because during last summer he fell over two lawn chairs, a picnic table and a garbage can while walking over to check the meter.
I have been assured that all the men will be on the job again this summer…Last summer two men gave up their vacations just to make sure that electrical equipment worked properly.
1974: Modern Lighting Enhances Cathedral
The SEA’s Chief Lighting Engineer was approached to design the lighting ‘for one of Queensland’s most impressive cathedrals – St. Patrick’s at Toowoomba’. In addition to the main lighting, subtle side lighting was designed to enhance architectural details.
The Cathedral is a fine example of Gothic architecture. Built of local bluestone basalt with Helidon stone trims and carvings, it was first opened in 1889 as a church. With extensions and the creation of a new diocese, the church became a Cathedral.
1974: Big Flood
Tennyson Power Station near Brisbane was described as ‘a half-sunken ocean liner rather than a land-bound electricity plant on the banks of a normally peaceful river’.
1975: 275 kV Transmission Line
A 275kV transmission line linked Callide Power Station, near Rockhampton to Brisbane.
1975: Commissioning of Gladstone Power Station
Work on the Gladstone Power Station site is beginning to take shape. The station’s first 275,000 kilowatt turbo-generator was scheduled to be commissioned late in 1975.
1975: Cyclone Tracey
Following the devastating effects of Cyclone Tracey in Darwin, teams of volunteers from SEA travelled to the city to assist with the clean-up and restore emergency power to the area.
The first SEA gang to go to Darwin moved into Stokes Hill Power Station and began to restore the machines and auxiliaries before moving on to the station’s switchyard. Other SEA volunteers helped to restore temporary supply to remaining buildings and houses.
1975: Lights-on for Karara
The small town of Karara in the Darling Downs celebrated the advent of a reticulated supply of electricity to the area with a Switch-on Ceremony and a dance held in the local hall. Prior to reticulation, the only electricity available in the area came from individual home lighting plants.
The supply was made possible due to the SEA’s adoption of a new rural system called the Single Wire Earth Return or SWER system.
The system features a single overhead wire energised at 12,700 volts connected to transformers with 240 volts output at each supply point. The return circuit from the transformer to the source is completed through the ground along the route of the line.
The reticulated supply would enable the 33 residents of Karara ‘to enjoy more domestic appliance such as refrigerators and deep freezers’.
1976: Official opening of Gladstone Power Station
Almost 2,000 people attended the opening of the Gladstone Power Station on Saturday, 18 September 1976, which was conducted by the Premier, Mr. J. Bjelke-Petersen.
The SEA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. I. Dennis, said that reliable and economical power was essential for the well-being of any community. He continued
The Gladstone Power Station was built to take advantage of the latest advances in technology…The cost of building the station has escalated enormously and the cost of fuel has risen substantially…Although we look forward to the benefits from Gladstone, all it will be able to do is decrease the rate of growth of such costs.
1976/1977: Reorganisation of the Electricity Supply Industry
The passing of the Electricity Act in 1976 created new electricity industry bodies to come into operation on 1 July, 1977. Queensland’s generating facilities were placed under the auspices of a new body, the Queensland Electricity Generating Board (QEGB). The Northern Electric Authority ceased to exist. Two new electricity boards for the South East and South West of the State came into being. The South East Queensland Electricity Board (SEQEB) took over from the Southern Electric Authority, and the South West Queensland Electricity Board (SWQEB) became the electricity authority for the South West with its base at Dalby. The other five electricity boards, making seven in all, were the Wide Bay-Burnett Electricity Board (WBBEB) based at Maryborough, Capricornia Electricity Board, based at Rockhampton, Mackay Electricity Board (MEB) in Mackay, North Queensland Electricity Board (NQEB) based in Townsville and the Far North Queensland Electricity Board (FNQEB) in Cairns. It was the responsibility of the electricity boards to distribute electricity to the final users, with extension of responsibility to allow appliance trading, repairs, consumer advisory services and promotion of the safe and efficient use of electricity.
The Electricity Act passed by the Queensland Parliament late in 1976 provides for the most far-reaching changes yet in the industry’s organisation, marking the start of a new phase in the provision of electricity to serve the people of Queensland
