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First Municipal Electric Street Lighting In AustraliaPrint Page Print this page

23-January-2020
23-January-2020

Photographs supplied by Sandra Brown
The Historic Electric Lighting Plant and Tamworth Municipal Electric Showroom were rebuilt and restored by the Peel-Cunningham County Council to commemorate the first municipal electric street lighting in Australia which commenced at the site on 9 November 1888. 

During the 1880s Alderman W.J. Smith persistently battled to replace gas with electrical street lighting, He was such an enthusiastic advocate of electricity that he named one of his sons Faraday, In 1887, Smith won his battle and the plant was completed in 1888, and the Mayoress, Mrs Piper "switched on" thirteen miles of street lights, the first public supply of electricity in Australia and the southern hemisphere.

Location

Address:216 Peel Street, Tamworth Powerstation Museum, Tamworth, 2340
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -31.087166
Long: 150.926909
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Government
Sub-Theme:Local
Actual Event Start Date:09-November-1888
Actual Event End Date:09-November-1988

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 9th November, 1988
Front Inscription

Plaque:
TAMWORTH POWERSTATION MUSEUM

HISTORIC ELECTRIC LIGHTING PLANT 
And First
TAMWORTH MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC SHOWROOM
Rebuilt And Restored By Peel-Cunningham County Council

To Commemorate The First Municipal Electric Streetlighting
In Australia, Which Commenced At This Site
On 9th November, 1888
- Opened By -
FRANK BRADY A.M., F.I.E. AUST.,
Chairman - General Manager - 1978 To 1988
The Electricity Commission Of New South Wales
9th November, 1988

Ald. R.A. Walsh, M.B.E.,              P.Newman
Chairman                                      General Manager 


Plaque:
TAMWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL
FIRST ELECTRIC LIGHTING PLANT
The Switch Lighting In This Town
With Electric Light Was Unlocked
- BY- 
Lady Mayoress Elizabeth Piper 
9Th November 1888

Jas. Piper                 C. Harrison
Mayor                       A.Whiffen
                            Electricl Engineers
 

 


 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au