The West Melbourne Gasworks was a

coal gasification Coal gasification is the process of producing syngas—a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour (H2O)—from coal and water, air and/or oxygen. Historically, coal ...

plant in West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

History

Melbourne was settled in 1835 and by the early 1850s, the gold rushes had led to rapid population growth. The City of Melbourne Gas and Coke Company leased 5 acres (2 hectares) of Crown Land in 1854 to construct a plant for the gasification of black coal. The works operated until 1962, importing coal via a dedicated wharf and a system of narrow gauge tracks drawn by steam locomotives.''Light Railways'' No.136 April 1997, Light Railways Research Society of Australia Several of these locomotives have been preserved and are now used on the

Puffing Billy Railway The Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway in the southern foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne, Australia. The railway was one of the five narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways which opened around the beg ...

. In 1962, the works were upgraded to incorporate a catalytic oil gas facility, but this was short-lived. In 1970, the works was closed down and the remaining structures were all demolished by 1974.Dames & Moore, 'Report, Environmental Audit Area A West Melbourne Gasworks Site,' 2002, Docklands Authority
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Site extent

The works were gradually expanded between 1900 and 1910, eventually covering in an area now extending from Waterview Walk to the Yarra River, with the new Collins Street extension and Harbour Esplanade running through the site.

References

{{Fuel gas Coal gasification technologies Industrial gases Chemical plants Fuel gas Industrial buildings and structures Former power stations in Australia Buildings and structures demolished in 1974 1854 establishments in Australia 1970 disestablishments in Australia Demolished buildings and structures in Melbourne