Tallawarra Power Station

DESCRIPTION

NameTallawarra Power StationEvent LocationYallahDescriptionTallawarra Power station began operations in 1954 as a coal-fired power station. Tallawarra employed hundreds of locals for decades until its closure in 1989.

Local identity and well known farmer Garnet (Garnie) Johnston, worked at Tallawarra for 19 years and 11 months, after he finished up farming. He did not have a trade, and so began as an unskilled labourer.

He worked in the administrative section as a cleaner and recalled ‘there were times when I felt a bit different because all the people in the administrative section were professional engineers or this and that and I was the cleaner, but it doesn’t matter, that worked out pretty well’.

The General Station Foreman promoted Garnie to a security job on the gate of the station, where he had to prevent people from taking bits and pieces from the power station, something that he says happened quite a lot.

Garnie worked at the power station until he was 65 years old, after which, he helped his son, delivering milk on a milk run in the area. Information thanks to Garnie Johnston.

In 2006 construction of the new gas-fired plant at Tallawarra began. It was officially opened in 2009 by the then NSW Premier Nathan Rees.

Person

Tomlin, Harold

Johnston, Garnet (Garnie)

Brownlee, William

Stubbs, Lewis (Lew)

Object

Sod Turning Spade

Place

Alex Hoffman Park

Locality

Yallah

Tallawarra Power Station 1970's.

CONNECTIONS

PersonJohnston, Garnet (Garnie)LocalityYallah

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Tallawarra Power Station