Established over a century ago to power Melbourne’s suburban rail system, The Substation building is a landmark in the industrial history of the inner west. Made in the Edwardian-Baroque style, The Substation boasts the ‘Type A’ design used for the first five substations constructed as part of the electrification of the Melbourne metropolitan network. The building was designed by the Victorian Railways Way & Works in conjunction with electrical engineering firm Merz & McLellan, and built in 1915.
After ceasing operation in the 1960s and falling into disrepair for three decades, in 1996 local residents Nigel Edwards and Darren Williams successfully led a campaign to restore and adapt the building for artistic use as the Hobsons Bay Community Arts Centre. Today, as an international destination for contemporary and experimental arts, The Substation both celebrates and transcends its original context in Newport as the nation’s leader in multi-arts and experimental practice.
Connecting diverse local communities in Naarm’s west to the world through a program of international, national and local opportunities, The Substation’s programming inspires us to refigure problematic histories, imagine possible futures and forge new connections.
