Wattle Glen railway 50hz electricity substation

This substation illustrates the process of improvement of the Hurstbridge branch railway line during the mid 20th century in response to population growth in the area and increasing sophistication in the use of electricity by the Victorian railways. The Melbourne to Eltham line was the last line to be completed in the first phase of the electrification of the Melbourne suburban rail network in 1912.{Geoffrey B Churchman, Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand, IPL Books; Sydney, 1995,} Siting of the first 1929 substation at the end of the line in Hurstbridge (itself built because the mains supply was inadequated1a) was found to be unsatisfactory over time and compounded by the increasing demand for electricity, leading to the construction of the present substation which is about half the physical size of the first one, reflecting advances in technology over that period. The quality of design in the exterior of the building itself illustrates the importance of the Victorian Railways during that period and the ethic of the time that an utilitarian structure such as this should still have a pleasing appearance.

REVISED STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (with AHC criteria)

The Wattle Glen 50hz substation is significant to the Shire of Nillumbik:

- because it illustrates the process of improvement of the Hurstbridge branch railway line and the whole metropolitan distribution system during the immediate post WW2 period in response to greater rail traffic from the population growth in the area and a bid for increased efficiency in the use of electricity by the Victorian railways and Australian industry (Criterion A4);

- it is one of two railway substations in the Shire, being examples of an uncommon building type in the State (Criterion B2);

- the construction is near half the physical size of the 1929 substation, reflecting advances in technology over that period (Criterion A4, F1);

- the quality of design in the exterior of the building itself illustrates the importance of the Victorian Railways during that period and the ethic of the time that even an utilitarian structure should be architect designed and reflect prevailing fashion (Criterion A4, F1)

Group

Utilities - Electricity

Category

Electricity Transformer/Substation