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History and Heritage

1913 The State Government announces it will build a power station “to generate all the electricity needed in the Perth Metropolitan area”. East Perth was the chosen site because coal could be easily delivered by rail and the enormous quantities of cooling water required by the condensing plant could be drawn from the Swan River.
1913 Construction commences.
1916 Construction is completed at a total cost of £538,000.
1916-1917 Power generation commences when Unit #1 goes on line on 3 December 1916. Units #2 and #3 begin generating power in March and April 1917 for a total generating capacity of 12 megawatts.
1922 Unit #4, a 7.5-megawatt generator was added. Demand for power began to increase rapidly. More generation was required.
1925 Unit #5, of 12.5-megawatt capacity, began generating power.
1929 Total power generation from East Perth Power Station was 32 megawatts. The estimated capital value of the power station was £1 million.
1932 WA Government announces it will privatise power generation and seeks purchasers for the East Perth Power Station from the private sector. The idea was abandoned later that year, due to lack of interest.
1938 Station B, a new powerhouse building was built alongside the existing building (Station A) was constructed around a massive new 25 megawatt generation unit (Unit #6).  Station A almost doubled the capacity of the East Perth Power Station.
1956 A new 30-megawatt generating unit (Unit #7) is commissioned. 
1968 East Perth Power Station converted to oil (from coal).
1974 East Perth Power Station returned to coal firing.
1981 After 68 years of continual service, East Perth Power Station closed down on the  23 December 1981. More advanced and cheaper methods of electricity generation had made East Perth redundant.
2003 (Nov) WA Government approves plans to save the heritage-listed buildings that comprise the East Perth Power Station complex.
2004 (July) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority commences stabilising and site clean up at the East Perth Power Station.
2004 (Nov)

The East Perth Redevelopment Authority releases its Draft Masterplan for the site and a three-month community consultation period commences. 

2008 (Feb) The State Government announces that the WA Museum will relocate to a rejuvenated Power Station building in coming years. The East Perth Redevelopment Authority undertakes to finalise its Masterplan for the project to plan for the redevelopment of the surrounding land.