Dear Art and Culture Enthusiasts,

Please join us on a visit to White Bay Power Station – the longest serving Sydney power station. It was constructed between 1912 and 1917 to power Sydney’s tram system and later, its rail network.

Placemaking NSW has undertaken extensive remediation and conservation works to repurpose White Bay Power Station as an art, cultural and community hub. The Power Station is significant as it is the only one retaining machinery and equipment from before the 1950s, demonstrating the process of electricity production and its use throughout Sydney’s extensive rail network. It is listed on the NSW State Heritage, National Trust of Australia and National Estate registers. The refurbished Powerhouse opened on 8 March 24 with a spectacular evening event to celebrate its inaugural exhibition as one of the hosts of the 24 Sydney Biennale.

We will explore White Bay Power Station’s historic Turbine Hall and Boiler House while enjoying an Art Tour of some of the exhibits from the 24 Biennale of Sydney. Aesthetically, White Bay Power Station contains internal and external spaces of exceptional significance. These spaces include raw industrial spaces of scale, quality and configuration which are becoming increasingly rare, and which inspire visitors and users alike. Externally, it is a widely recognised and highly visible landmark, marking the head of White Bay and the southern entry to the Balmain Peninsula and its industrial waterfront. It retains a powerful physical presence and industrial aesthetic and is the most important surviving industrial building in NSW.

Following the tour members are free to explore the site. There is a Café for those wishing to enjoy a casual lunch or a coffee.  Shuttle buses return every 15 minutes to The Queen Victoria Building.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

The stretch of Country now known as Bays West has been known for millennia as Gari Gurad/Nura (Saltwater Country) and Nattai Gurad/Nura (Freshwater Country).

DATE: Tuesday 21 May 2024

TIME: 11. 15am – 12.15pm (approximately)

VENUE: The White Bay Power Station

ADDRESS: Robert St, Rozelle NSW 2039 Phone: (02) 9216 5700

MEETING PLACE:    Outside the building at the seating area adjacent to the Tour Hub Van at 10.55am.

COST: $15.00 pp

RSVP TO: Alison Ross Email: [email protected] with your name and mobile phone number.

RSVP BY:  10 May 2024 It is advisable to RSVP early as this event has a maximum of 30 members. When the event is full, we will go to ‘Waitlist’.  Do not pay until your place is confirmed. We will always endeavour to get back within 24 hours. If you have not heard back, please SMS:   Alison Ross Mobile: 0405 541 921

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Payment Option 1 (Preferred): By Credit Card through the Payments section of the website

Payment Option 2: Online (direct deposit) into the SWIC bank account

Account Name: SWIC Inc.

BSB No: 062-005

Account No: 11889493

Description: Event + your initial and surname

TRANSPORT: There is no parking at The Power Station and extremely limited timed parking in surrounding streets.

Special Event Bus Route 443 run a shuttle between QVB and WBPS every 10 -15 minutes.  The first bus leaves at 10.30am. Payment required. Journey takes approx. 10 minutes. Shuttle buses leave from Stand B York St outside the Queen Victoria Building to the Power Station. Drop off in the grounds of the Power Station is every 10 -15 minutes.

For further information on transport options  please consult the White Bay Power Station website.