Electricity
Written by Graham Wilson
Australian Theme: Building settlements, towns and cities.
State Theme: utilities.
Local Theme: Activities associated with then provision of services, especially on a communal basis.
Electricity works, power lines.
Today it is hard to imagine life without electricity in the domestic home or on rural properties. Candles and kerosene lamps in country towns initially provided light; Bingara and Warialda were no exception. Acetylene burners in some businesses and larger pastoral properties provided later light. Candlelight gave way to home generators and these plants enabled small electrical appliances to be used. When electricity was first provided to the towns, it was developed by private enterprise and later by County Councils. Part of the responsibility of these Councils was to provide services to rural areas.
On 1 June 1891, it was moved by Alderman Court of Bingara Municipal Council that full details be obtained as to the cost of electric lighting for the town. Six weeks later in July, the matter was deferred owing to the cost and consulting engineers Harrison and Whiffen were informed of the council’s decision.
Acetylene gas was introduced to a number of public buildings, shops and Bridger’s Criterion Hall in Bingara. ‘Mr W. Finkernagel and Mr Isacc Fader were the first to install home lighting plants in their stores …’ Large batteries stored the electricity and William Finkernagel supplied light for his picture show, the ‘Royal Hotel’ as well as residences and shops in his block of the town. In another part of town, A.I. Fader supplied lighting to his general store and a number of other shops and offices.
The Bingara Municipal Council instructed the Town Clerk to begin negotiations with Cliftons Ltd. for the supply of electricity. In 1928 Cliftons Ltd was contracted to supply the whole town with light and power. The old producer gas engines were brought from their Barraba plant and the gas plant was supplied with wood at Bingara.
During the 1930s a number of complaints to Bingara Municipal Council arose concerning the supply of electricity including the smoke stack at the powerhouse and meters.
In March 1936 Cliftons invited Bingara businessmen to a function to witness the installation of a new engine to supply electricity.
The franchise agreement with Cliftons was to expire in 1940 and council commenced the investigation of alternative arrangements. In February 1938 council discussed with the Local Government Department in Sydney the possibility of council taking over the supply. Council engaged a consulting electrical engineer Mr Franki to prepare a report and one alternative was to extend services from Inverell; a policy supported by government.
The Inverell Municipal Council supplied the next stage in the provision of electricity in Bingara after 1940.