Geelong Gas Company
The Geelong Gas Company was a private company set up to produce and distribute town gas in the city of Geelong. From a gasworks in North Geelong it converted coal into town gas for use in homes and industry. The company was founded in 1858 and existed until 1971 when Geelong was converted to natural gas and the company was bought out by the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria.
The first attempts at establishing a reticulated gas supply in Geelong were made in 1854. However, it was not until July 1857 that a meeting was held at the National Hotel to establish a gas company in Geelong. The first official meeting was held on August 20, 1857.
The company was established by Act No. 57 in 1857 "to promote the convenience of the inhabitants of the Town of Geelong and the municipal district of Newtown and Chilwell."
The company planned to build a plant capable of producing 25 million cubic feet (710,000 m3) of gas a year. To distribute this gas to customers, 11 miles (18 km) of gas mains was planned, made of 12-inch (300 mm) to 2-inch (51 mm) pipes.
April 1858 saw the company start its search for land to erect the gasworks on. The first site chosen was in central Geelong. bounded by Bellarine Street, Corio Bay, Corio Street and Corio Terrace (now Brougham Street). This site was rejected by nearby homeowners, as well as government representative, MLC M.J. Strachan, due to health issues having the plant in the city. The Gas Company Act of June 4, 1858 prohibited gas production in the Corporation of Geelong leaving the company to find another site.
Land on the western side of the railway station at North Geelong was purchased from the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company for the gasworks. The sale was accepted in March 1859, for £200 an acre, for a total of 6 acres (24,000 m2). A railway siding for the gasworks was provided in September 1859, and was the first private siding in the area.
On February 10, 1860 the foundation stone was laid. A time capsule was also laid with newspapers, coins, a copy of the constitution of company, and a list of those involved with the gasworks construction. This capsule was recovered in 1924 and presented to the company. The original cost of the scheme was not exceed £25,000. The final price was £24,135.
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