Substation

Item details


Name of item:	Substation
Other name/s:	Substation No. 15; #15 Johnston Street Substation; Annandale Zone Substation
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Utilities - Electricity
Category:	Electricity Transformer/Substation
Location:	Lat: -33.8789163986 Long: 151.1715699100
Primary address:	182 Johnston Street, Annandale, NSW 2038
Parish:	Petersham
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Inner West
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	3		DP	131214
LOT	4		DP	131214

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
182 Johnston Street	Annandale	Inner West	Petersham	Cumberland	Primary Address
Piper Street (near)	Annandale	Inner West			Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Ausgrid	State Government	21 Oct 98

Statement of significance:


	Substation, Annandale has State significance as the likely oldest operational substation in NSW and one of only a small number of pre 1920 substations still standing. It has historic significance as a rare surviving element of the early expansion of suburban electricity infrastructure in Sydney, the major city of NSW. It demonstrates the historical development of electricity supply beyond central Sydney. The substation is evidence of the early funding and supply framework for electricity in NSW, when responsibility rested with local councils. It is a very early example of a substation constructed by the Municipal Council of Sydney for a neighbouring council, illustrating the decentralised provision of electrical services during the first decades of electrification. Substation, Annandale has State technical significance as a very early purpose designed zone substation which was associated with the early supply of public street lighting and the distribution of electricity to homes and businesses within a suburban municipality. Its twin transformer system originally enabled the replacement of gas street lighting, and in its early operation it also directly powered street lighting on Johnston Street. Surviving features, including the overhead 'leading in' block and the street lighting control access door provide evidence of this technical value.
	Date significance updated: 12 May 26
	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:	City Building Surveyor's Dept. (Robert Hargreave Brodrick, James Henry Merriman)
Builder/Maker:	Municipal Council of Sydney, City Building Constructor's branch
Construction years:	1910-1926
Physical description:	Substation, Annandale is located on the western side of Johnston Street, near Piper Street. It is an above ground double height brick substation with sandstone detailing. The substation site sits on a small block of land and directly fronts the footpath alongside Johnston Street. Designed in Federation Free Style, the front facade features a gabled wall with moulded stone parapet. White metal lettering on the facade identifies the building: 'SYDNEY ELECTRIC LIGHTING' and beside the archway 'SMC' and '1910', mounted as single characters. The central arched entrance is flanked by modified windows, ventilation louvres and a door. It retains its original form and details. Its detailing includes sandstone and decorative banded brickwork and is of a high quality. A rusticated and moulded sandstone arch surrounds the central doorway. Sandstone defines the lintels and sills, wall pediment and gabled parapet. The main brickwork is red. The horizontal decorative banding in darker brickwork aligns with the windows and beneath the signage. It retains its 'leading in block' in the centre of the top of the front facade, where original overhead wires passed from power poles into the substation. It also retains the access door to the right of its front facade main roller door that gave access to the street light control panel. The side and rear elevations feature simple masonry walls. The decorative banding does not continue from the front of the building. The design details reflect the building's siting nestled amongst residential housing, where only the facade fronting Johnston Street was visible at the time of building. Two large copper ventilators and a timber clerestory (1926) punctuate the pitched slate roof. The interior is one large room. Originally a partition created a store at the rear of the building. This was removed in 1926 as part of alterations to increase the capacity of the substation. At the rear a ladder leads to the basement access. Although the substation has had electrical equipment upgrades, the building remains in its 1926 configuration, both externally and internally, and continues to perform the function for which it was designed. Early electrical equipment still in place (but decommissioned) includes two fluted tank 200kVA transformers (typical of the 1920s and 1930s). The Public Light Control Board (installed 1926) is also in place. Public Light Control Boards are no longer required and are being progressively decommissioned.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Good.
	Date condition updated:30 Jan 26
Modifications and dates:	1913: transformers were upgraded to 100kVa. 10/12/1925 plan (Merriman, Brodrick [City Archives A-00543834] shows alterations and additions for equipment expansion and reconfiguration. This included installing three 200kVA 'fluted tank' style new transformers and a Public Light Control Board requiring separate door access to the front elevation. Extra ventilation was introduced, including louvred vents on front and back elevations, roof clerestory and ventilators. On the front facade, windows were shortened and the stone sills repositioned to accommodate new ventilation louvres on the left and a new door on the right, leading to the Public Light Control Board (Pennington 2012). New louvers were installed in the rear wall. A clerestory ventilation lantern was installed on the rear section of the roof. The original cowl-type ventilators remained in the front section. The storeroom partition towards the rear was demolished, creating one large interior space ready for re-equipping. Overhead high voltage mains were placed underground as part of alterations in 1926. The low and high voltage cable pits were extended, a new rear landing and stairway and a room was established in the building's basement (its western end) accessed from the rear yard. This was to faciliate access to the underground cables. These alterations works were completed by November 1926. (Murray 2025; Pennington 2012). 1926 (likely) the Public Light Control Board was installed, along with its access door, but it may date to earlier. 1927: interior alterations in preparation for re-equipping. MCS Electricity Department reported that the substation was 're-equipped with new high tension and low tension switchboards, and supply maintained to all consumers.' (Murray 2025). New underground cables replaced low-voltage conductors entering the building via the leading-in block. The tubes of the leading-in block were removed. 1929: One of the cable pits was extended further. 1931: The undeveloped land at the rear of the substation was subdivided in 1931 and sold to adjacent land holder JJ Field at 180 Johnston Street. An extension to the house at 180 Johnston Street was later built on the purchased land. Access remained available to the substation basement via an external staircase, later replaced with a landing and ladder (Ausgrid 2026). 1936: the 1922 feeder banels were replaced 1950: the 1936 feeder panels were updated 1952: the 1950 feeder panels were updated 2006: Substation upgraded, with all switchgear and transformers replaced with modern equipment. The 1930s cubicle switchgear was decommissioned and removed. Two of the 1930s 'fluted tank' transformers were decommissioned and retained on site. 2011: general refurbishment (brickwork of front facade cleaned, interior painted), including re-equipping and roof repair works, removing asbestos cement (sheet) ceiling lining to expose the original tongue and groove timber boards. Original cowl-type (roof) ventilators and later lantern-type ventilators were reconstructed (to approximate state pre-1926 & 1927 alterations (Pennington 2024). 2012-13: Maintenance and conservation works undertaken including repair to roofing (and replacement of damaged roof and gutters), ventilation, guttering and drainage, masonry repair (re-setting loose and damaged brickwork), repair and reinstatement to windows, doors (upgrade to meet current safety and security standards) and vents, internal works and repairs. [letter 13 July 2012 supporting exemption]. Also removal of redundant conduit and impediments in brickwork, removal of graffiti and repainting (Inner West Council, advice on 2013 works, provided 24/2/2026) Photographs dating from 2014 show the exterior was cleaned of graffiti and the interior painted. [Pennington, 2024]


Current use:	electrical distribution substation
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farmland, electrical zone substation (servicing a wider area)

History

Historical notes:

STATEMENT OF COUNTRY
Annandale is the Country of the Wangal people of Eora Country, which encompasses the south side of Sydney Harbour from Iron Cove to Parramatta (Attenbrow 2002).

The "Eora people" was the name given to coastal Aboriginal people around Sydney (Heiss and Gibson 2025; AIATSIS). The Wangal people of the Eora were saltwater people, skilled at living from the coastal and harbour waters and resources of the Cooks River (Muir.2013). Post-contact, land between Iron Cove and the Cook's River was known as the Kangaroo Ground, in which the natural woodland provided suitable habitat for a range of valuable food sources for the Wangal (Pratten 1998, cited in Sydney Water 2005: 5).

Being among the first to encounter the British, the Eora were highly impacted by disease and dispossession. Their traditional food supply was encroached upon by the new settlers and the newly introduced diseases such as smallpox severely decimated the local Aboriginal population (Heiss and Gibson 2015).

Dispossession accelerated, when in 1792, Phillip received 'Additional Instructions' allowing him to grant land (Fox and Associates 1986: 16). To establish a chain of farms between Sydney and Parramatta, Phillip granted land along the road to Parramatta, including in what was to become Annandale (Burke 1986: 3).

However, Aboriginal people, including Eora people continue to retain links to the area. Aboriginal communities in inner-west suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe, and Redfern have formed a key part of NSW’s Aboriginal population since the 1930s (Heiss and Gibson 2015).

EARLY ELECTRICITY NETWORKS IN NSW
Prior to introducing electricity in NSW, streets were lit with gas and houses used gas, kerosene and fat oil lamps, and candles. Technological advances in the 1870s and 1880s made electricity a feasible lighting and power alternative. Early supply was from small generators and early providers of networks were principally municipal Councils.

The first instance of NSW's municipal electric power supply was streetlighting in regional centres experiencing major growth in the 1880s. Tamworth and Young were amongst the first examples, with Tamworth receiving electric streetlight in 1888 and Young in 1889.

ELECTRIFICATION OF SYDNEY
Sydney’s first public demonstration of electric light was in 1863 when Sydney Observatory was illuminated in honour of the Prince of Wales’s marriage (Australian Energy Regulator 2007, p. 2). Early supply was from small generators scattered throughout the city for specific buildings or events.

Large-scale production was in its infancy in NSW in the 1890s, and the number of facilities constructed to generate or distribute electricity was relatively insignificant compared to municipal gas works established in that decade. Local municipalities pushed for legislation allowing them to generate electricity, build infrastructure, light streets and supply public and private places. Sydney’s first council to generate and supply electricity to private homes, businesses and street lights was Penrith, which established an electric light station in 1890 (Nepean Times 1957, p. 1). Another light station was built closer to the city at Redfern in 1891.

The wealthiest municipality, the Municipal Council of Sydney (MCS), got State government consent to establish its own networks and supply private customers under the Municipal Council of Sydney Electric Lighting Act 1896. Its Electric Lighting Committee was established in 1898 to bring the network to the MCS area, reaching from Millers Point to Chippendale, Surry Hills and Moore Park (City of Sydney n.d.). While originally supplying the MCS area only, it soon became the biggest supplier of electricity in NSW.

Sydney’s first major central power station was the Ultimo Powerhouse (listed on the State Heritage Register (SHR) as part of Powerhouse Museum Complex, Ultimo (SHR 02045)), built in 1899 by the NSW Department of Public Works to power the electric tram network. Construction of White Bay Power Station, Rozelle (SHR 01015)) followed in 1913 (Dunn, 2008). Trams were central to Sydney’s growing population and economy and electrifying steam tram lines occupied much of 1900 to 1910.

MCS's first power station supplying street lighting and private use was at Pyrmont, opened in 1904. While earlier ‘electric light stations’ were small power stations supplying a small area, large power stations required the technological development of several types of substations to convert electricity to lower voltages for private use. Substations were designed to house transformers and other bulky equipment, such as AC to DC convertors, switchgear and batteries. Two types emerged, the zone and distribution substation. Zone substations were large complex facilities receiving power from bulk supply power stations such as Pyrmont and reducing voltage for local distribution. Distribution substations reduced the voltage further and supplied customers.

City Building Surveyor and City Architect Robert Hargreave Brodrick designed Pyrmont Power Station, and his branch designed hundreds of substations across Sydney to be substantial, ornamental pieces of civic infrastructure (Vade Mecum 1906, p. 200). The quality of design and construction was high, moving beyond functionality to fine civic architecture that sat comfortably in its surrounds. Land for them was either purchased in negotiation with owners or acquired by MCS through resumption if necessary. All stand-alone substations until 1936 were designed by MCS’s City Architect & Building Surveyor but built by various parties.

In 1904 MCS built its first six distribution substations: Town Hall (Sydney), Lang Park (Sydney), Athlone Place (Ultimo), Pyrmont Street (Pyrmont), Oxford Street (Darlinghurst) and Nicholson Street (Woolloomooloo).

MCS first began supplying other areas of Sydney in 1905. A small substation was built to supply the Royal Hospital for Women in Paddington and another for Camperdown Children's Hospital (Murray, 2025).

Smaller private companies supplying city businesses were bought by MCS from 1907-13. MCS quickly established itself as one of two primary suppliers in Sydney, with the Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation (ELPSC) supplying electricity from Balmain Power Station to inner western suburbs from 1909 to 1956. In 1910, four municipalities entered agreements with MCS to extend mains into their areas, a rapid escalation to the extent of the network.

By 1914 MCS supply reached 23 municipalities outside the city centre, in the largest electricity network in NSW. The subsequent rapid expansion of the network in the 1920s was on a scale unprecedented in Sydney or the State and this continual network expansion required constructing additional infrastructure throughout greater Sydney. This means that a significant portion of MCS’s substations were built from 1921 onwards.

By 1935, 16 Local Government Areas were supplied by MCS across an area of over 747 square miles (193,472 Ha). Network control was removed from MCS via the Gas and Electricity Act 1935, reconstituting its Electricity Department as independent entity, Sydney County Council (SCC).

The NSW Electricity Commission (Elcom) became overall State authority providing electricity in NSW from 1952, and SCC generating assets were transferred to it that year. Elcom controlled NSW’s electricity until dissolved with the Sydney Electricity Act 1990. A series of private and public entities now provide electricity and its infrastructure in Sydney, overseen by the NSW Government. Ausgrid now manages most distribution and zone substations (excluding the high-voltage transmission network).

ANNANDALE
Most of what makes up modern Annandale was granted in 1799 to George Johnston, a marine. It is named after his property, Annandale House. From 1876, his family began subdividing land.

The location of Substation, Annandale became part of 280 acres bought in 1877 by John Young and his Sydney Freehold Land, Building and Investment Company Ltd, which subdivided and sold allotments (Pollon and Healy 1988: 3-4; Roberts 2008). A steam tram line began along Parramatta Road to Annandale in 1883, increasing access to and from the city and suburbs. In 1892 the Balmain steam tram line was extended through Annandale.

ANNANDALE SUBSTATION
In 1910, Leichardt Municipal Council entered a contract for electricity supply with MCS, which purchased land for the substation. The land does not appear to have been developed prior to construction of the substation and plans indicate it needed substantial filling as it sloped steeply to the west. It occupies the front third of a typical local residential block (Ausgrid 2026).

It was the first zone substation built outside MCS boundaries and demonstrates its early phase of expansion. It was built for AC with an original capacity of 60 kw (Vade Mecum 1911) with two small transformers in its front two thirds, a storeroom at rear (Ausgrid 2026). It marks commencement of major technological transformation of suburban areas in the 20th century associated with developing the modern city and state.

Its design is associated with City Architect RH Brodrick and deputy James Henry Merriman. Brodrick was City Building Surveyor and City Architect for MCS from 1898 to 1928, supported by Merriman. Working as principal and deputy, they designed a range of civic structures including Pyrmont Powerhouse (1904), new Municipal Markets (1909 - 12), Strickland Building (1914), Hippodrome (1916), shops and hotels, council buildings and depots, public conveniences and streetlamps. Brodrick oversaw design of over 300 substations (Murray 2025).

Brodrick’s original coloured substation plan held in the City of Sydney Archives is dated 29 July 1910. It encapsulates the Federation Free style with links to Federation Arts and Crafts domestic architecture (Apperley et al 2002: 136).

Federation Free Style architecture (1890 – 1915) represents a significant chapter in Australia's architectural history, embodying emerging national identity and adapting to its unique environment. Its development coincided with Federating Australia in 1901. Architects sought a distinctly Australian style reflecting our identity and climate and applied to commercial and institutional buildings (Apperley, Irving & Reynolds 2002: 136). It was also applied to Pyrmont Power Station and a few early substations, presenting a modern progressive image for the new public infrastructure.

Annandale substation commenced operating on 1 January 1911. Using the supply from the substation, MCS installed 173 electric street lamps, and wiring underground. Mayor James Roberton declared in 1911, 'we have one of the neatest and most effective installations of electric lighting in Australasia' (SMH 19 January 1911: 12).

A plan dated 10 December 1925, initialled by Merriman and signed by Brodrick (City of Sydney Archives) shows alterations and additions for equipment expansion and reconfiguration. Alterations were completed by November 1926.

In 1931, surplus land to the rear was sold to a neighbour. Access remained available to the basement via an external staircase, later replaced with a landing and ladder (Ausgrid 2026).

Electrical equipment upgrades continued throughout the 20th century. Cubicle switchgear and low voltage boards were replaced in 2006. All three transformers were taken out of service and replaced with 750kVA transformer in mid-2007, however two 1922 transformers have been retained on site, pending assessment for future display and interpretation off-site (Ausgrid 2026).

The substation retains its 1926 configuration and continues to operate (Murray 2025).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	20th Century infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing suburbia-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis	Providing electricity-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working complex machinery and technologies-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working on public infrastructure projects-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - providing electricity-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Federation Free style-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Substation, Annandale, has State historic significance as the oldest operational substation in Sydney, and as a part of the first wave of electricity infrastructure in suburban Sydney. Although Sydney was not the first part of NSW to electrify, the rollout of electricity infrastructure in the city exceeded that of earlier regional adopters. Substation, Annandale represents a sizeable expansion of the network in the early 1900s, providing electricity to Annandale and surrounding suburbs. While it still operates as a local substation, it originally operated as a zone substation and was among the very first general use substations constructed in a council area outside of the Municipal Council of Sydney's boundaries. Substation, Annandale, also has State historic significance as a tangible demonstration of the period in which electricity networks in NSW were the responsibility of local councils. It is a very early example of the substations constructed by the Municipal Council of Sydney for other councils. The Municipal Council of Sydney quickly became the dominant builder and provider of electricity infrastructure in Sydney and the largest in NSW. Early contracts of this kind, including that which led to the construction of Substation, Annandale, document the historic development and expansion of electricity supply in Sydney.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Substation, Annandale, has State technical values as one of the first and the oldest surviving purpose-designed and built electricity zone substations associated with the historical provision of public street lighting and the distribution of power within a suburban municipality in Sydney. Its twin transformer system originally replaced gas lit local streets. Its technical significance is evidenced by the retention of its 'leading in block at the centre of the front facade, where originally overhead wires passed from power poles into the substation.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Substation, Annandale has State rarity value as it is likely to be the oldest substation still in operation in NSW and one of the oldest substation buildings still standing in NSW. It is one of only a very small number of documented substation buildings in NSW that survive from before 1915 and the only one presently identified as having remained in continuous operatiion from construction until the present day.
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:


	A Conservation Plan should identify changes that will not adversely affect significance before any works are planned. External character should be conserved. Internal changes may be acceptable. Continuing care and maintenance are essential (Schwager Brooks 1994, volume 2: 14).

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Review a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)	30 Jan 26
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act - Site Specific Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT, 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) ENERGYAUSTRALIA - SITE SPECIFIC EXEMPTIONS I, the Minister for Planning, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales, in pursuance of section 57(2) of the Heritage Act, 1977, do, by this my order (a) under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act grant exemption from Heritage Council approval under Section 57(1) of the Heritage Act, as outlined in Schedule A, for the following activities described in 1-15 below, subject to review and approval by a person with demonstrated heritage expertise and experience in similar buildings and sites. 1. Replacement of corrugated asbestos roofing systems, box gutters and eaves with corrugated metal roofing system which maintains the general profile of the building roof and does not require replacement of structural fabric of the roof and retains any decorative features of the original roof design (e.g. exposed eaves, decorative soffits or barge boards). The choice of roofing material should not preclude the reinstatement of the original form of rainwater goods. 2. Replacement of non-original switchgear and associated internal building rearrangements to accommodate new switchgear, which does not require the significant removal of building fabric. 3. Replacement of non-original internal and external transformers. 4. Internal installation of fire mitigation apparatus and mechanisms including fire curtains, sheeting of structural members to improve fire rating and replacement of internal fire doors with asbestos cores. 5. Minor works necessary to preserve and enhance the security of the building including the replacement of locks, installation of internal security screens and grilles and the installation of electronic access control devices. 6. Maintenance and minor repairs that are necessary to preserve and maintain the building and are within the limits of the standard exemptions of the Heritage Act. 7. Excavations and reinstatement associated with installation or replacement of conduits, cables, services and pipes, where this will occur within existing cable egress areas or existing cable jointing areas and there are no known or suspected archaeological relics. 8. Minor works internal to the building including: a) Replacement of Customer Load Control Equipment. b) Upgrade of non-original toilet / washroom facilities. c) Upgrade of control room equipment. d) Refurbishment of battery rooms. e) The removal of asbestos materials such as interior and external sheet linings, fire proofing, troughing, conduits, window sealant, asbestos fire doors etc. f) The removal of devices and equipment containing mercury or other heavy metals. g) Removal of lead-based paint and reinstatement with the original paint scheme. h) Replacement of non-original lighting fixtures, including electrical controls where they are required for security or safety. 9. Minor internal works necessary to upgrade and enhance the structural integrity of the building which do not impact on the heritage significance of the building including: a) The internal fitting of improved handrails and or stairs to access higher stories for the reason of safe access. b) The upgrade of non-original internal lifting / crane equipment in loading docks specifically required for manual handling of equipment to meet WorkCover requirements. 10. Temporary works including containment areas, scaffolding and enclosures necessary for the carrying out of maintenance, enhancement or upgrading works. 11. Installation of safety or information signs, not being for commercial or advertising purposes. 12. Maintenance and painting of finished building surfaces where colour of finish is matched to the original colour. 13. Decommissioning of a substation and removal of non-original equipment. 14. Installation of oil containment systems in order to meet NSW EPA Pollution Licence requirements, in the following circumstances: a) Masonry or concrete bunding around transformers and within existing transformer bays. b) Underground oil containment works or systems in areas where there are no known or suspected archaeological relics. 15. Ventilation and air conditioning works limited to: a) Replacement of existing external vents and louvres in a style consistent with the external appearance of the building. b) Replacement of non-mechanical rooftop ventilators in a style consistent with the form, scale and position of existing ventilators. c) Internal air conditioning systems with no externally visible components and which do not require the removal of original building fabric. KRISTINA KENEALLY, M.P., Minister for Planning Sydney, 5 Day of May 2009 SCHEDULE A Item State Heritage Register Listing Number Electricity Power House, Crows Nest SHR 00931 Relay Test Centre, Haberfield SHR 00933 Substation, Ultimo SHR 00934 Substation, Randwick SHR 00935 Substation, Balgowlah SHR 00936 Substation, Manly SHR 00938 Substation, Paddington SHR 00939 Substation, Pymble SHR 00940 Substation, Annandale SHR 00941 Electricity Substation No 167, Auburn SHR 01790 Electricity Substation No 269, Bondi SHR 01791 Electricity Substation No 349, Randwick SHR 01792	May 15 2009
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00941	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register
Local Environmental Plan	Substation including interiors	I55	23 Dec 13
Within a National Trust conservation area

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Sydney Electricity Section 170 Register	1994	P02785	Schwager Brooks and Partners		No
Haberfield Main Street Study - final report	1994		Godden Mackay		No
EnergyAustralia Heritage Register Review	2007		MacLaren North		No
Sydney Electricity S170 Heritage & Conservation Register	1994	02785 (volume 2 of study)	Schwager Brooks & Partners Pty Ltd	Graham Brooks	No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	AED (unattributed)	2007	A brief history of the Electrical Utilities in NSW	View detail
Written	Apperley, Richard; Irving, Robert; and Reynolds, Peter	2002	'Federation Free Style c.1890 - c.1915' (chapter)
Written	Attenbrow, Val	2002	Sydney's Aboriginal past: investigating the archaeological and historical records
Written	Ausgrid	2026	Ausgrid Substation Histories - history and development of noted substations (including Annandale)
Written	Australian Energy Regulator	2007	'History of Electricity - Sydney County Council' (A Brief History of the Electrical Utilities in NSW'	View detail
Written	Burke, Sheridan	1986	"New look for Parramatta Road and conservation of the Goodman's buildings"
Written	Dunn, Mark	2008	White Bay Power Station	View detail
Written	Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) 22 June 1910: 4	1910	"Suburban Electric Lighting. Annandale and City Council"	View detail
Written	Extent Heritage	2017	Randwick Zone Substation (No. 341) Conservation Management Plan Update, final
Written	Federation House - Australia's own housing style (website)		'Federation Free Style (c.1890-c.1915)'	View detail
Written	Fox and Associates	1986	Marrickville Heritage Study	View detail
Written	FuturePast Heritage Consulting	2011	Balgowlah Zone Substation, 83 Griffiths Street, Balgowlah - Conservation Management Plan, Final, 7/2011	View detail
Written	Godden Mackay	1995	Industrial Heritage of Power Generation - a framework for heritage management, Volume 2 - Existing situation
Written	Godden Mackay	1994	Tramways Workshops, Depots and Substations - Survey and Assessment
Written	Heiss, Anita and Gibson, Marylou-Jane	2015	"Aboriginal People and Place"	View detail
Written	Mackenzie, Julie	1998	The Fate of Electrical Substations of Heritage Significance
Written	McDonald, Jo	2005	Archaeological Salvage Excavation of Site RTA-G1, 109 - 111 George Street, Parramatta, NSW, October 2005
Written	Muir, Leslie	2013	'Aboriginal People of the Cooks River Valley'	View detail
Written	Municipal Council of Sydney (City Electrical Engineer)	1910	City Electrical Engineer recommends that a substation be built at Annandale at an approximate cost (22/7/1910)	View detail
Written	Municipal Council of Sydney (now City of Sydney)	1927	Vade Mecum 1927 (City of Sydney Yearbook)	View detail
Written	Municipal Council of Sydney (now City of Sydney)	1925	Plan - Alterations and additions to Electricity Substation No. 15, Johnstone Street Annandale, 1925	View detail
Written	Municipal Council of Sydney (now City of Sydney)	1911	Vade Mecum 1911 (City of Sydney Yearbook)	View detail
Written	Municipal Council of Sydney (now City of Sydney)	1910	Plan - Sydney Electric Lighting Substation, Johnstone Street, Annandale, 1910	View detail
Written	Municipal Council of Sydney (now City of Sydney)	1906	Vade Mecum 1906 (City of Sydney Yearbook)	View detail
Written	Municipal Council of Sydney Electricity Supply Undertaking	1927	Annual Report of the General Manager of the Electricity Department for the year 1927	View detail
Written	Murray, Lisa	2013	‘Civic Spaces and the City Architect’
Written	North, Maclaren	2008	Conservation Management Plan for Substation. No. 15 (182 Johnston St Annandale
Written	Pennington, James	2024	More Sydney electricity supply history
Written	Pennington, James	2012	Electricity Substations of the Sydney Municipal Council and other local authorities
Written	Penrith City Council	2021	'150 years of Penrith City Council'	View detail
Written	Pollon, Frances and Healy, Gerald	1988	'Annandale' (entry)
Written	Pratten, Chris (ed.)	1998	A short walk through Ashfield's past	View detail
Written	Roberts, Alan	2008	'Annandale' (entry)	View detail
Written	Schwager Brooks and Partners	1994	Sydney Electricity Heritage & Conservation Register [Section 170 Register], 1994	View detail
Written	Sydney City Council		Historic Council Boundaries	View detail
Written	The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930) 19 April 1910: 9	1910	"Annandale and the Electric Light"	View detail
Written	The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930) 7 January 1911	1911	"Annandale Electric Light. The Contract Time Kept. Council Fully Satisfied"	View detail
Written	The Nepean Times	1957	'Future of Electricity Service in Penrith - the proposed new County Councils'	View detail
Written	The Star (Sydney, NSW : 1909 - 1910) 16 February 1910: 2	1910	"At the Council Board. Annandale"	View detail
Written	The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) 1 December 1910: 2 (Latest edition).	1910	"The Suburban Light"	View detail
Written	The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 19 January 1911	1911	"The Suburbs. Annandale and Electricity. The New Installation"	View detail
Written	Town Clerk's Department	1930	Substation - Johnston St., Annandale. Tenders for sale of surplus land. Offer by J.J. Field	View detail
Written	unattributed, in Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) 12 January 1910: 6	1910	"Street Lighting. Electricity v Gas. Proposals for the Suburbs"	View detail
Written	Wikipedia		'Federation Architecture' (entry)	View detail
Written	Wilkinfeld, George and Spearitt, Peter	2004	Electrifying Sydney: 100 years of EnergyAustgralia

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

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5011948
File number:	S97/000/23/1; EF12/17772

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