This AC generator operated for the State Electricity Commission in the Ballarat North Power Station prior to World War Two. James Oddie of Ballarat has an association with Thomas Parker of Elswell-Parker. In early 1887 Oddie arrived in England seeking information on electrical knowledge and its developments. At this time Henry Sutton was teaching Electricity and Magnetism at the Ballarat School of Mines. Oddie stayed in the United Kingdom for around three years and during that time became a close friend of Thomas Parker and his family. The two first met at the first official running of the Blackpool tram, and Oddie was invited to visit Parker at Wolverhampton. Over the years Thomas Parker kept newspaper cuttings (mainly Australian) relating to James Oddie and his work. The following article is a description of the Wolverhampton works by James Oddie, and was collected by Thomas Parker. After the dinner at Blackpool, Mr. Parker visited me, and cordially invited me to see his extensive works at Wolverhampton, an invitation I was not slow to avail myself of. This was the keynote of the best friendship I made in England. I went shortly afterwards and stayed several days, visiting the works daily, as Mr. Parker gave me the run of the whole works. There I ordered the installation of a 60 light dynamo, with a 28 cell storage battery and paraphernalia, now doing duty at the Observatory. I subsequently visited the works frequently, sometimes for a week at a time, and I regard it as the brightest spot in my English constellation. Mr. Parker started his works in 1880, with one man beside himself. He never had a single day’s instruction in electricity in his life; now he daily instructs between 300 and 400 employees, who worship him as a father. He is said to be now the most practical electrical engineer and mechanist in Europe. During one of my visits I took with me an artist, who is painting for me a portrait, 6 feet by 5 feet, of Mr. Parker, surrounded by dynamos, secondary batteries, measuring instruments etc. Electric tram cars are going to be a big thing in England. Parker’s Company Limited, is now, with three other companies, in the hands of the Electric Construction Company, with Mr. Parker as manager of the lot. The whole of the works will be taken to Wolverhampton. Before I left, a tender for £50,000 was accepted for the construction of new works.AC Generator painted read and black on a stand. This AC generator operated for the State Electricity Commission in the Ballarat North Power Station prior to World War Twogenerator, ac generator, elwell-parker ltd, state electricity commission, sec, ballarat north power station, james oddie, wolverhampton

Yields information about the tram services and the Ballarat A Power Station.Negative and Digital image of the Wal Jack Ballarat Negative file of No. 11 southbound in Ripon St passing Ballarat A power station.trams, tramways, ripon st, ballarat a power station, tram 27

Yields information about the construction of Ballarat B Power station that was used to augment and replace the A Power station and the building of it.Digital Image of an article about the construction of Ballarat B Power station in The Courier, 14/3/1953, from a photocopy of the article obtained by Alan Bradley. Gives details of the power station, the builder (Westinghouse International Electric Company) and the Mildura and Geelong package power stations. Has two photographs of the station under construction. See Alan's email of 21/12/2011 in the worksheet file.trams, tramways, ballarat b power station, power supply, geelong, westinghouse

Information from Norman F. Dalton: Ballarat had a reticulated DC supply in the early part of last century and in 1905 had sufficient generating capacity to enable the trams to be changed from horse drawn to DC electricity. The use of electricity increased with the main power station located on Wendouree Parade, near Webster Street, under the ownership of The Electric Supply Company of Victoria. AC generating plant was installed in 1925 and conversion to AC proceeded. In 1934 the company was taken over by the State Electricity Commission Victoria (SECV) and more AC generation was installed and the changeover of customers was accelerated. This is around the time that the Synchronome Frequency Checking Mast Clock was installed at the Wendouree Parade Power Station. The SECV Annual Report of 1921 states: ::Section 11 of the act directed the COmmission to enquire into the question of securing the adoption of such standards of plant and equipment of a system, frequency and pressure for the generation and distribution of electricity as will admit of the efficient interconnection of undertakings throughout the State. In 1934 when the SECV took over the Ballarat operations the question of linking with the State grid had been a planned operation for some years but due to financial considerations had hindered it and in fact would continue to do so for a further 10 years. So while the need for close frequency control for interconnection was hardly an issue, the need to keep electric clocks correct was important, particularly as this item was a frequent sales point to cover the inconvenience and sometimes expense of converting from DC to AC. The clock is a very accurate pendulum clock with provision for varying effective length during operation for precise time regulation. There are two normal time dials and one is controlled by the pendulum and the other is operated by the system frequency. When the clock was in use it was installed by the MEter and Tests Laboratory and the time was checked daily by radio time signals. The two dials were repeated in the operators control panel in the Power Station. A maximum deviation between the two dials was set in the operating instructions (eg 5 seconds) and the operator would correct this when necessary by remote manual alteration of the turbine governor set point. The clock was used to drive and regulate a system of "slave" clocks which were used to display the time in various locations around the power station. A slave clock is a simple clock which is driven by a small electric motor, its accuracy is regulated by the master clock every 30 seconds to ensure that it and all the other slave clocks in the station are on exactly the right time; slave clocks were placed in various locations, from common rooms to workshops. A master clock could potentially run thousands of slave clocks at one plant. The clock also contains a rectifier. A rectifier is a device that is used to convert AC power to more stable DC current.Two clocks in a timber case. Both are electric, one is powered by the main pendulum mechanism, the other is a self contained electric clock. The main mechanism is of the gravity arm and roller type, which sends an impulse to the slave clocks every 30 seconds. The This Synchronome Frequency Checking Master Clock was used at the Ballarat Power Station. Below the main section of the case is a smaller cabinet containing a rectifier to provide consistent DC power for the clock. The rectifier was made by the Victorian company Hilco, which was located in Burwood. There is a high chance this is not the original rectifier from this clock as there appears to be brackets to hold a larger device in the space the rectifier occupies.Front below main clock face on front of case: "Patented Sychronome Brisbane" Lower left-hand clock face: "Frequency time" Lower right-hand clock face: "Standard Seconds" Synchronous electric clock mechanism on door (Frequency time clock): >200/250 V. 50~ >"Synchronomains" Made in England >Direction indicator for clock starting switch >"To start move lever in direction of arrow and release" >"Patent applied for" Mechanism for "standard seconds" clock: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "321" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Mechanism for "standard seconds" clock: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "321" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Mechanism for main clock face: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "8751" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Inside case, back panel, top enamel plate: >Seconds Battery + Pos. > Battery Common or - Neg. >1/2 min dials Inside case, back panel, bottom enamel plate: external seconds dial Inside case, right hand side, electrical knobs: two switches, both "A.C. mains" Pendulum rod, below suspension spring: Serial number (?) 0000005 Rectifier in bottom cabinet: >"Hilco Rectifier" >"A.C. Volts 230/240" >"Model 1060/S" >"A.C. Amperes" >"Serial No. 1060/S >"Phases 1" >"D.C. Volts 6" >"C.P.S. 50" >"D.C. Amperes 1" >"Made in Australia by Hilco Transformers McIntyre St., Burwood, Victoria." Bakelite electrical plug: makers mark Lower cabinet, RH side panel, pressed tin plate: "AC" (upside down) Brass speed adjustment, outer right RH side: "S" and "F" Ivory and wood pendulum beat ruler: >Ruler, with 0 in centre and numbers 1-5 in ascending order from centre on left and right. > "Synchronome Patent." Steel plate, back panel, inside case, right hand side: >N R A" (descending) >"2191" serial number/part number Face of main clock: "Synchronome Electric" synchronome frequency checking master clock, electricity, state electricity commission, wendouree parade power station, secv, clock, time, pendulum, electric supply company of victoria, norman f. dalton, ballarat power station, rectifier, slave clock

Has a strong association with some of the Ballarat SEC workers.Hanimex colour slide, white cardboard mount of a SEC worker in grey overalls at the SEC depot in Wendouree Parade - Ballarat A power station. Photo from the collection of Lilian Butler. ballarat, tramways, trams, ballarat a power station, maintenance

Yields information about the announcement of the SEC Decision to close both Ballarat and Bendigo and gives details regarding personnel and how it will be handled.., Yields information about the announcement of the SEC Decision to close both Ballarat and Bendigo and gives details regarding personnel and how it will be handled..Copy of a Memorandum sent by the Melbourne office, Engineer and Manager SEC to the Manager Ballarat and Bendigo branches, 1/2/1962, titled "Ballarat, Bendigo Tramways - Personnel", regarding closure, informing unions and personnel. Predicted towards the end of 1962. Will make endeavours to find the men suitable employment, but may not be at existing locations or wages. Notes the same as being applied to Geelong, Ballarat B power station, Geelong power station with ex-gratis payments based on years of service. Signed by K L MurrayDate stamped 2/2/62 and has file number in the top right hand corner in ink and notes re copies.trams, tramways, closure, staff, employment, sec, bendigo, ballarat, personnel, ballarat b power station, geelong

Colour postcard of the ESCo power station in Ripon St and Wendouree Parade, titled "New Electric Power House Ballarat". Shows the chimney, buildings and the cooling tower facility. Later known as Ballarat A Divided back with space for correspondence and address. No details as to printing.trams, tramways, ballarat a power station, power station, esco, chimney stack

Yields information about a historical wall at the Ballarat Power station and its relationship to a previous land owner.Newspaper clipping from The Courier, 26/8/1953 of a photograph and caption of the bluestone wall at Ballarat A power station, noting it was a remnant of Fry's flour mill. Also notes when the power station foundation stone was laid. Item was contained within Reg Item 5507 - Foolscap binder with green covers, black binding edge and metal clips - see btm5507-list.pdf for actual location. Hi Res scan added 16-12-2015.power station

Yields information about the construction of the tramway in Ballarat from a newspaper viewpoint of 1904 and compares the construction with that of Bendigo.Photocopy of an extract and article from the Ballarat Start, Friday 16 September 1904" titled "The Electric Tramway System - What it will be in Ballarat - A revolution in street traffic". Describes the tramway system that is planned for Ballarat, including the power station, the routes, rails, gauge, overhead, tramcars, with comparison with the Bendigo system. Photocopy provided by Andrew Cook 15-1-2015.trams, tramways, ballarat, esco, ballarat a power station, opening, newspaper clippings, bendigo

Yields information about the Ballarat Power Station A prior to the demolition of the chimney.Colour digital images taken by W. J. Llewelyn of Ballarat A Power Station, Wendouree Parade and Ripon Street with the chimney standing late 1950's or early 1960's. Note the tram stop pole in the left hand side.trams, tramways, ballarat a power station, wendouree parade, ripon st, sec

Yields information about the City of Ballaarat the time of the Mayor's report to the City Council, about the events, industry, transport and other issues within the City.Photocopy of part of City of Ballaarat's Mayor's Report for 1951 - 1952. Originals held in the Ballarat Library. Seven pages covering trams, railways, telephones, one page item and artists impression of new SEC Power Station Ballarat "B" then under construction and photo looking from Town Hall - showing a sign "orderly parking".trams, tramways, city of ballaarat, trams, railways, civic history

Set of 9 Agfa blue and white plastic mount slides of the relocation of No. 31 from the SEC Ballarat Depot the SEC Ballarat B Power station yard - 6/10/1971 - See Reg Item 3929 for list of dates of tram disposal. .1 - a mobile crane moving equipment around the depot Wendouree Parade. .2 - No. 31 loaded onto a truck departing the depot. Note that the 21 E truck is not fitted to the tram. .3 - ditto .4 - ditto in Wendouree Parade .5 - arriving at the SEC B Power Station yard. .6 - tram jacked up with the flat bed low loader being moved out from the tram. .7 - tram being lowered to the ground .8 - ditto showing the one end with broken windows. .9 - tram arriving at the B Power station with the station in the background. Photo from the collection of Lilian Butler. ballarat, tramways, trams, sec, depot, tram disposal, transporting trams, power station, tram 31

Yields information about the transfer of trams to storage at the B Power Station following closure of the SEC Ballarat system.Set of 11 Kodachrome cardboard slides of the relocation of No. 30 and 32 from the SEC Ballarat Depot the SEC Ballarat B Power station yard 4/10/1971 - See Reg Item 3929 for list of dates of tram disposal. .1 - SEC owned truck leaving with No. 30 on board .2 - ditto with No. 30 turning into Wendouree Parade .3 - ditto .4 - ditto arriving B Power station yard with the chimney in the background - note still has its truck attached to the tram. .5 - At the yard with the tram jacked up to release the truck. .6 - No. 30 about to be lowered. .7 - Lil Butler? standing on the step of No. 30. ,8 - No. 30 on the ground - on blocks. .9 - No. 32 loaded onto a truck at the depot. .10 - turning onto Wendouree Parade with No. 32 .11 - No. 30 and 32 at the SEC B Power Station yard Photo from the collection of Lilian Butler. ballarat, tramways, trams, sec, depot, tram disposal, transporting trams, power station, tram 30, tram 32

Yields information about the SEC in Ballarat and in particular the conversion from DC power to AC.Newspaper clipping from the Saturday Magazine of The Courier 30/6/1984 titled "50 years of the SEC", looking at the history of the SEC in Ballarat, includes the conversion of plant from DC to AC which was not completed until 1968. Notes the two power stations and SEC offices have been moved to Norman St. Has five photos, including a staff photograph with many names, a photo of Bridge St, a collision between a truck and tram 14, SEC advertising and an interior view of Ballarat A. Written by John Dyallsec, ballarat a power station, sec crews, electrical engineering, electrical systems, electricity supply

Yields information about the Ballarat Power Station B soon after construction and the precinct.Colour digital images taken by W. J. Llewelyn of Ballarat B Power Station, Norman St with a view showing some of the roof mounted equipment and looking towards the Wendouree suburb with Norman St in the view.. Could be early 1954, given the works at Johns Valves - Photo taken at the same time as btm6845i.. Note the surveyor and level in the middle bottom of the photograph.trams, tramways, ballarat b power station, secv, manufacturing, norman st

Photo taken as part of the TMSV tour of the tramway system on a typical Ballarat winters day. Photo in the then disconnected View Point loop in Wendouree Parade. The fence of Ballarat A Power station can be seen in the background. Yields information about the purported achievement of tram 27 reaching 1,000,000 miles and the TMSV Tour. Shows the former View Point crossing loop. This figure was later found to be in error by about 100,000 miles.Digital image of a photograph by Mal Rowe of tram 27 at the former View Point Loop in Wendouree Parade 29/6/1968, during the Tramway Museum Society of Victoria tour to celebrate the tram doing 1,000,000 miles in Ballarat. tmsv, wendouree parade, view point, million miles, tram 27

Ten page book with plastic clear cover and heavy rear cover, bound with a green colour comb binder, titled "Botanic Gardens Wendouree Parade Ballarat - An ever changing physical environment - a part of Ballarat's cultural heritage". Prepared May 2004 by Warren Doubleday as part of a visit by St Patrick's College on 20-5-2004. Fax copy of letter in rear of item. Has photos of the Horse trams, electric trams to 1971, BTPS, BTM, power station, Gardens and the SEC depot.trams, tramways, wendouree parade, gardens, btm, schools

Yields information about a new depot for Ballarat - the track plan proposed but not followed through for ESCo. Gives the layout and the proposed manufacturer Hadfield's.Print made from a microfilm using a microfilm printer, of "Ballarat Plan 6", a drawing showing trackwork for a new tram depot proposed for the ESCo owned property near the power house. Shows an 8 track tram depot in association with existing Wendouree Parade trackwork. Prepared by Hadfield's Sheffield, drawing No. 6745 as Plan No. 6. Gives details of the proposed rail weights - 90lb and 83lb and location details. Drawing held as one complete assembled print and two part prints. The assembled print was scanned. Note not printed at full size. See Alan Bradley article on the Power Station and power supply to Ballarat.depot, trackwork, ballarat, esco, hadfield's

Real Estate advertising, marketing brochure or pamphlet, 240g stock, four colour, laminated after printing for the sale by tender of the former SEC Ballarat A power station, corner Ripon and Wendouree Parade, Ballarat. Agents Jens Gaunt, and Jones Lang Wootton. Has on the rear of the brochure an aerial photo. showing the location, location map and a short marketing statement. Three copies held. Two additional copies added 19/05/2006. See Reg Item 2783 for the contract of sale document.trams, tramways, power station, wendouree parade, sec, ballarat a power station

Photograph of No 21 in Ripon St near the intersection with Wendouree Parade. Tram has the destination of View Point. Ballarat A Power Station buildings are in the background. Photographer and date unknown.Yields information about SECV Ballarat 21 running a View Point service.Copy negative on a heavy substrate.tramcars, tramways, view point, tram 21, wendouree parade, ballarat a power station, ripon st

Set of four black and white photographs of interior and equipment of the former ESCo / SECV Wendouree Parade Ballarat A power station sent to the Editor of Trolley Wire - used in the November 1997 issue of Trolley Wire. All photos by Richard Gilbert. Photos taken on 20/8/1971. All photos on Kodak paper. 1144.1 - Looking along building at main distribution switch panel - used on page 24 of trolley wire. 1144.2 - a view across the main steam generator section of the power station - and AC plant - used on page 23. 1144.3 - of the British Thomson Houston rotary converters in used at the time of the photo - used on page 23. 1144.4 - a view from the opposite end of the building shown in 1144.1 - showing the rotary converters are in the front of the photo, AC generators in the middle and foreman's cabin - used on page 22. All have yellow stickers with photo number for magazine printer, and white sticky labels with photo number and words "photo xx same size" written on black ink and photo numbers in pencil from Richard.trams, tramways, trolley wire, esco, power station, ballarat a power station, rotary converters

Has a strong association with the ESCo shed staff and later tram crews, c1910? Shows the nature of the clothing worn by the depot staff, and one of the crew and the interior detail of the one of the tramcars at the time. Provides details of names of some of the men photographed.Black and White copy photograph of the ESCo power station and tramway staff outside the front of the ESCo Power Station, View Point, Wendouree Parade, Ballarat c1915. Standing on the ground are 26 men and on the tower truck a further 14 men. Shows details of the clothing the men were wearing at the time, depending on the age and company position, details of the horse drawn tower truck, and of the power station and office brickwork. Tower wagon drawn by one Clydesdale horse. See page 53 of The Golden City and its Tramways and for the photo itself. Gives some names of the people in the photograph. From the photo caption in the book: Extreme left Harry Foy, depot Foreman, second from left Mr Knox the accountant; third from left is Walter J.K. Dunstan, office manager, 7th from left Alan Todd, 3rd from right standing is Bob Tregaskis ("Rickety Bob), at left, kneeling is Albert Mitchell, at right kneeling is George Laurens - overhead wire maintenance, standing at base of the tower at right is Tom Richardson, painter, next to him on the left is Sy Barker and at the reins Teddy Hewitt and Harry Weston.tramways, trams, esco, staff, power station, tower wagon

Yields information about the purported achievement of tram 27 reaching 1,000,000 miles and the TMSV Tour and the Lake View loop, showing its relationship with the Ballarat A power station and the removed set of points that were used to construct 0 road at the SEC depot in 1956.Digital image of a Black and white photograph of Tram 27 at the Lake View Loop in Wendouree Parade during the celebrations of the tram completing its "millionth" mile in Ballarat on Saturday 29 June 1968. Note that the south end points of the loop have been removed. The Ballarat A Power station fence is in the background. Tram showing "Special", has banner "This tram has just completed 1,000,000 (million) miles in Ballarat" on the front of the tram during the TMSV Celebratory tour. See also Reg Items 1878 and 7990 to 7995 for other photos of the day by Mal Rowe. Note: A review of the tram car mileages by Dave Macartney, showed that it was actually 900,000, due to a carryover error.trams, tramways, tmsv, million miles, lake view, wendouree parade, crossing loop, ballarat a power station, tram 27

B&W photograph of the interior of the Wendouree Parade power station boiler house of ESCo, at the time of its opening. Photo shows boilers and furnaces, pipe work, coal hoppers and some control equipment. The print for this photograph made from a copy negative of page 454 of the Australasian, August 19, 1905 in 1993. Print includes caption "BOILERS AND FURNACES". See Reg, Item No. 763. See Alan Bradley, draft Chapter 3 of the history of Ballarat Tramwaystramways, trams, esco, power station, boilers, ballarat

Yields information about the status of the SEC's Ballarat B power station in 1962.An article on page 8 of The Courier Newspaper, 12 pages, for Monday April 23, 1962. Note the year, shown as 1961 on the front page and the editorial on page 3 is incorrect, the correct year is 1962 as shown on the other pages - see Reg Item 5909 for other items within the paper. Page 8 of the newspaper contains a photo and text about the SEC's Ballarat B power station, titled "A White Elephant?" and its usefulness giving other generators being brought on line. The SEC advised that it was still in use.ballarat, sec, power station, ballarat b power station

Photocopy of an article in the State Electricity Commission of Victoria Magazine, Contact, Vol 3, No. 2, Aug 1938 titled "The Development of Ballarat's Electricity Supply". Two A3 sheets. The item with six photographs details the history of the development of Ballarat's Power Supply. Details development of the initial power supply in Dana St, the take over by ESCo, DC power initially, expansion, introduction of AC in 1925 to Ballarat, the takeover by the SEC in 1934, changeover from DC to AC, expansion to outlying areas, Buninyong, Creswick etc. Gives description of installed plan, boilers, storerooms and the stores systems. Has photos of the Dana St. building, Ballarat A power station, Ljungstrom Turbo Alternator and three of the stores area. Record revised 3/4/2019 to add digital images with those from Andrew Cook CD. Each item had a thin strip of paper attached by staple to the top left hand corner, giving the Vol. No. details.On rear of 2nd A3 sheet in blue ink details of contact with the BTM by M. Sayers prior to sending the material.trams, tramways, sec, power supply, power station, ballarat a power station, esco