The former Electricity Substation No.3 at 98 Colin Street, West Perth was built in 1914 as part of Perth’s D-ring electricity distribution network, which was developed to support both the expanding electric tram system and the city’s growing electricity demand. The building played an important role in distributing electricity throughout the city and is one of four substations built as part of the network that operated in conjunction with East Perth Power Station, which opened in 1916.

 

Electricity in Perth

Before this system was established, Perth relied on several smaller and less efficient electricity supplies. International engineering firm Merz & McLellan recommended replacing them with a centralised alternating current (AC) system supplied from a single power station. Their advice shaped the future of Perth’s electricity network and led to the construction of East Perth Power Station, which opened in 1916, along with four strategically located substations across central Perth.

 

Substation No. 3 was one of these four buildings. It was commissioned by the Perth City Council and designed by prominent Western Australian architect Jack Learmonth Ochiltree. Tenders were advertised in July 1914, with Todd Brothers awarded the construction contract. The building was constructed under the supervision of international engineering firm Merz & McLellan, particularly engineer Charles McLellan, who played a significant role in Perth's early electrification.

 

Substation purpose

Unlike East Perth Power Station, the building did not generate electricity. Instead, it received high-voltage electricity and converted it to lower voltages suitable for distribution to homes, businesses and street lighting throughout the surrounding area. The building originally housed equipment such as transformers, switchgear, oil circuit breakers, protective relays and electrical control equipment.

 

The substation D-ring network consisted of:

• No. 1 Substation – Wellington Street

• No. 2 Substation – Murray Street

• No. 3 Substation – 98 Colin Street, West Perth

• No. 4 Substation – Stuart Street

 

Architectural design

The four buildings were constructed between 1914 and 1915 to a standard design that was modified to suit each site.

 

Architecturally, the Federation Warehouse style building is of a two-storey red brick structure with stucco detailing, limited window openings at ground level and larger upper-level windows. Unlike many industrial buildings, it was intentionally designed to blend into the urban environment.

 

Redevelopment

At some point, the building was restored and adaptively reused for commercial and residential purposes, although the exact date of conversion is unknown. Rental listings indicate residential accommodation and commercial units existed within the building by at least 2005, with at least 12 rental advertisements appearing between 2005 and 2015.

 

The building is currently owned by a private owner and Dalcorp Holdings Pty Ltd. Dalcorp also owns one other property, as well as four units within another eight-unit building, with the remaining four units owned by the same private owner, who also owns three additional properties.

 

In February 2023, the property was placed on the market with offers sought in the high one millions. The campaign ran for 99 days from 14 February 2023, however no publicly recorded sale appears to have occurred and ownership appears to have remained unchanged.

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Current tenants

Today, 98 Colin Street is best known as the corporate headquarters of Place Development, a Perth-based property development and project delivery firm. From this office, the company manages a number of significant Western Australian projects, including The Lodge Wadjemup on Rottnest Island, the Kennedy Bay master-planned coastal community and golf clubhouse, and The Farm Bunker Bay boutique tourism development in the South West. The address also serves as a business location for other organisations, including Coterra Environment.