Bendigo Gas Works - Historic Engineering Marker #31 Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
By Team MavEtJu on 17-Oct-15. Waypoint GA7628

Bendigo Gas Works - Historic Engineering Marker #31

Bendigo Gasworks awarded Historic Engineering Landmark

On Thursday 21st September 1995, the President of the Institutue of Engineers in Australia, Dr. Ian Mair unveiled an Historic Engineering Marker at the Bendigo Gasworks. Following the discovery of gold, Bendigo quickly grew into a thriving provincial centre. The gasworks were built before the railway from Melbourne, so all construction materials and black coal had to be hauled in by horses. On the 1st April 1860 manufactured coal gas from this plant first lit Bendigo. Word soon spread and a crowd gathered to marvel at the new wonder for Bendigo. The gasworks and reticulation system was re-furbished in the 1920s to improve the efficiency of the plant and the quality of the gas. By the 1930s the quality of gas was superior to that available in Britain. The gasworks were purchased by the Gas and Fuel Corporation in 1958 and in 1966 two of the horizontal retorts were altered to allow catalytic conversion of Liquefied Petroleum Gas to increase the capacity of the supply. When the natural gas pipeline to Bendigo was completed and natural gas arrived in Bendigo in August 1973, it spelt the end of the production at the Bendigo Gas Works. On 8th October 1973 the retort was charged with black coal for the last time, the conversion to natural gas had been completed.

In unveiling the Historic Engineering Marker, Dr Ian Mair noted that the historical plant is sufficiently complete to enable the process of gas-making to be easily understood. The sequence of the development of the gasworks from the 1860s to the 1960s is also apparent in the range of buildings and equipment on site. The plant includes, horizontal retorts, condensers, gas holders, boilers, managers office and residence, stables, blacksmith, coal and clicker handling equipment.

The gasworks was purchased by the Bendigo Trust and is being developed as a Gasworks Museum. The Bendigo Trust also proudly displays the many specialised hand tools that were used and retained on the site that further enable the work of the people associated with the gas works to be better understood. The Bendigo Trust also runs the Bendigo Tourist Tram and part of the site now functions as a tram depot.

Content of the plaque:

Coal Gas was manufactured here from 1860 to 1973. The original works were constructed during 1859-1860 under the direction of engineer Alexander K Smith and developed in a period of growth by W A Simco, General Manager 1922-1939. The works were operated by the Bendigo Gas Company until purchased by the Gas and Fuel Corporation in 1958 at which time they were supplying 3500 consumers. The site is an Internationally significant example of an entire provincial Gasworks.

Dedicated by The Institution of Engineers, Australia and the Bendigo Trust, 1995

Note: The location of the marker is described as "on front wall of gasworks cottage". If you find it, please consider measuring the right location and make a copy of the marker.

When logging this virtual, please add a photo of yourself or your GPSr at the plaque.

For more information, please see this page at the Heritage Register at the Engineers Australia website: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/heritage/bendigo-gas-works-1860-1973