Electricity Substation No. 57

Item details


Name of item:	Electricity Substation No. 57
Other name/s:	#57 'Floss Street' Substation.
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Utilities - Electricity
Category:	Electricity Transformer/Substation
Primary address:	12 Floss Street, Hurlstone Park, NSW 2193
Local govt. area:	Canterbury-Bankstown

Boundary:

Whole site

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
12 Floss Street	Hurlstone Park	Canterbury-Bankstown			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Ausgrid	State Government

Statement of significance:


	The Floss Street substation is a modestly detailed example of an Interwar purpose designed and built structure that displays elements of the Californian Bungalow style evident in the dominating gable roof. It is typical of the small scale distribution substations constructed by the Municipal Council of Sydney during the roll-out of electricity to suburban areas in the 1920s and 1930s.
	Date significance updated: 07 Mar 07
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Municipal Council of Sydney
Builder/Maker:	Municipal Council of Sydney
Construction years:	1921-1921
Physical description:	The Floss Street substation is an Interwar building incorporating aspects of the Californian Bungalow style I its design. It has a dominating gable roof and long ridge mounted louver. A rough cast rendered gable end area contrasts with tuck pointed face brick walls. The Floss Street substation is constructed using load bearing face brickwork and incorporates a rough cast rendered gable end wall and a large roof mounted timber framed louver.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Clerestory and barge boards need painting. Considerable grafitti.
	Date condition updated:22 Mar 07
Modifications and dates:	Brickwork overpainted. Roof, gutters and downpipes replaced. Cliplok fences.
Further information:	Floss St substation is unusual in that the rear façade is a temporary structure only. While the front of the building is masonry, the rear wall is metal-clad timber, which was designed for easy removal to allow for expansion of the substation. The only other substation known to retain this feature is #36 Union St St Peters.


Current use:	Electricity Substation

History

Historical notes:

The Floss Street substation is a purpose designed and built structure dating from 1921. It is the third substation on the site. The first substation was a galvanized iron structure replaced in 1915. The second was a brick building with a transformer tower, demolished c 1920 (see photos). This substation was constructed by the Municipal Council of Sydney as a part of the expansion of the electricity network into the suburbs.

Notes on works to the site extracted from the Minutes of the Electric Lighting Committee, Municipal Council of Sydney (CRS 14):

Vol 7:

29/7/13 p138 - laying of pipes at Floss St

15/9/13 p122 - substation proposed for Floss Street Canterbury

29/4/14 p 347-8 - fence erected

16/8/14 p87 - transformer installed

26/10/14 p173 - gear installed to control pole transformer in Undercliffe

Vol 8:

1/2/15 p281- extension to Floss Street substation to accommodate new switchgear

20/5/15 p389 - #57 Floss Street substation rebuilt from galvanised iron to brick

Vol 19:

24/5/33 p572-3 - recommendation that roof be fireproofed

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis	Distribution of electricity-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Substation no 57 is historically important as an example of the expansion of the electricity network into the suburbs in the 1920s.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Substation no 57 is a modestly detailed example of an Interwar purpose designed and built cottage-style substation that displays elements of the Californian Bungalow style.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	It is typical of the small scale distribution substations constructed by the Municipal Council of Sydney during the roll-out of electricity to suburban areas in the 1920s and 1930s.
Integrity/Intactness:	Intact - minor modifications only.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

This item contributes to local character and should be conserved. Original details should be maintained including doors, windows and original signage. New materials should be sympathetic to the nature and character of the original building. In the event of major proposed changes, prepare a Conservation Management Strategy and undertake an archival recording. Wherever possible, changes should be restricted to the interior of the building. Routine maintenance of existing fabric is essential. The replacement of the metal and timber temporary rear wall is acceptable, if necessary to allow for the expansion and continued operation of the substation.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	Ausgrid Heritage Register	3430295	01 Nov 94

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Sydney Electricity S170 Heritage and Conservation Register	1994	PMIS 568	Schwager Brooks and Partners Pty Ltd		No
EnergyAustralia Heritage Register Review	2007		MacLaren North	M North	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Wilkenfeld and Spearitt	2004	Electrifying Sydney

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	State Government
Database number:	3430295

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