This rather non-descript, enigmatic structure at 10 Ithaca Road, Elizabeth Bay, incorporates fancy, see-through brickwork tracery. It incorporates important-looking, neo-Georgian, classical, bi-fold. wooden panelled doors.

Where do they lead? What is this building for?

They lead into chamber of humming electrical transformers which form a crucial web of the Sydney’s electricity substation network.

Electricity Substation Number 223 is a rare example of a relatively intact Inter-War substation  built in February 1929 by the Municipal Council of Sydney during a phase of rapid expansion of the electricity network to Sydney’s suburbs.

In 1902 Sydney Council purchased a suitable site for a mega-power station at Pyrmont.. The first freestanding substations were also constructed at this time at Town Hall and Lang Park in the City, Wilson Street in Woolloomooloo, Athlone Place in Ultimo and at Taylor Square in Darlinghurst.

They contained transformers which converted the 5,000-volt electricity generated at the power station to 240, 414, or 480 volts, suitable for distribution of use, commencing on 8th July 1904.

By 1905 Council’s mains power was extended beyond the city limits for the first time to Paddington with Council’s Electrical Department receiving expressions of interest from Glebe, Newtown, Paddington, Woollahra, Camperdown and Balmain Councils, North Sydney and Long Bay.

Supplying electricity was lucrative for council which also sold electrical goods from its own showrooms.

In the early part of the 20th century electricity was considered to be a new and exciting commodity. Early substation buildings were constructed during a time when a culture of quality and craftsmanship existed. This had a large influence on architectural designs. Substations were architectural statements designed to carefully harmonise with surrounding buildings, attempting to allay community fears about safety, resistance to new technology as well as potential adverse streetscape impacts.

Between 1904 and 1935 Council built over 360 substations and almost 400 pole transformers throughout Sydney and surrounding areas.In 1936, control of electricity undertaking was removed from the Municipal Council of Sydney to the state government by the Gas & Electricity Act 1935.

Alterations were carried out to Ithaca Road substation in 1953: its medallion, “MC of S Electricity Dept Substation No 223” was removed. The entire equipment within the substation was replaced in October 1961.

But it still lives on serving the community, humming behind closed doors.

By Andrew Woodhouse, Director, Heritage Solutions