43-575: The Electricity Trust of South Australia ( ETSA ) was the South Australian Government -owned monopoly vertically integrated electricity provider from 1946 until its privatisation in 1999. Charles Todd , an early settler in Adelaide who oversaw telegraphic communications in the colony and beyond, also introduced the idea of electrical street lighting , necessitating a public electricity supply. An Act of Parliament created
86-407: A direct current (DC) electric generator able to distribute 400 kilowatts , opened on 19 November 1901. It provided electricity to North Adelaide in 1902, with Norwood Unley , Hindmarsh and Thebarton following over the next ten years. On 31 August 1904 ownership of the company passed to the privately owned and London-based Adelaide Electric Supply Company ( AESC , or AESCo ). Over time
129-482: A laboratory , a room for testing the various instruments, and the company's switchboard and other communications systems. Two tall brick chimneys stood parallel to Grenfell Street behind the main building (demolished in 1926), and entrances to some of the buildings opened onto East Terrace. By 1917, the output of the power station was 12,000 kilowatts, driven by the great demand. Wheadon and other directors of AESCo foresaw that technical problems would inhibit increasing
172-464: A vertically-integrated generator, distributor and retailer of electricity, ETSA was responsible for the development of new energy sources. Coal was mined at Telford Cut near Leigh Creek . ETSA expanded the electricity distribution network to areas where there was previously no supply, or only low voltage (32 volt) supply generated locally. By the end of the Playford era, South Australia had one of
215-680: A building called Kelvin House at 233 North Terrace . Designed by Eric McMichael (architect of the Odeon Star cinema at Semaphore ) in Art Deco style in 1925–6, the building was later heritage-listed and renamed Security House In April/May 2023 the entire second floor of the building will be occupied by the History Trust of South Australia . Government of South Australia The Government of South Australia , also referred to as
258-527: A monopoly over electricity supplies in Adelaide. During World War II , coal supplies became critically low. The state government sought to establish a reliable long-term source of coal for the state and the sub-bituminous coal from the Telford Cut at Leigh Creek , though of poorer quality, was considered the most viable source. The deposits seemed extensive and extracting the coal by open-cut methods
301-671: A split in its ranks because of the nationalisation, and the state legislation passed only with the support of ALP and independent members of parliament. Work on the Osborne 'B' Power Station started in 1947 and was completed soon after. The boilers at the Osborne Power Stations were modified to burn Leigh Creek coal. In 1948, control of the Leigh Creek coalfield was transferred to ETSA, its largest user. ETSA built major power stations near Port Augusta : Playford A
344-782: Is exercised by the premier of South Australia and the Cabinet of South Australia , who advise the Governor. The Cabinet comprises 15 ministers, headed by the Premier, who are either members of the House of Assembly or the Legislative Council . Cabinet is responsible for determining policies which are submitted to Parliament. As of 15 April 2024, the ministry of the South Australian Government comprised
387-589: Is the formal mechanism for administration of the state. Many of the decisions made by Cabinet do not have legal effect until they are signed by the Governor in Executive Council. All items for the approval of the Governor in Executive Council must first be considered by Cabinet, with the exception of the assent to Acts. When exercising a statutory power, the Governor must act with the advice and consent of Executive Council. All ministers are ex officio members of Executive Council. In practice, executive power
430-600: The Commonwealth Railways , resulted in economic production and delivery of coal to the power station. Pacific National provided the coal freight service from 2001. After the State Bank collapse in the early 1990s, South Australia was left with a large debt after fulfilling its obligation to bail out the bank. In the lead up to the 1997 state election , the incumbent Olsen Liberal government pledged not to privatise ETSA. However, after being re-elected,
473-826: The South Australian Electric Company in 1882, but the company did not ever start to produce electricity, owing mainly to opposition by those holding interests in the South Australian Gas Company , which supplied power using natural gas . The South Australian Electric Light and Motive Power Company was registered in March 1895 and was authorised to provide power throughout the colony of South Australia . Previously, municipal councils had been empowered to provide electricity within their areas, but none did so. The company started to supply electricity from its Nile Street generator to
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#1732798155414516-629: The South Australian Government or the SA Government , is the executive branch of the state of South Australia . It is modelled on the Westminster system , meaning that the highest ranking members of the executive are drawn from an elected state parliament . Specifically the party or coalition which holds a majority of the House of Assembly (the lower chamber of the South Australian Parliament). South Australia
559-523: The balance of power on three seats. However, defectors from Labor in the upper house, Terry Cameron and Trevor Crothers , brought independent member Nick Xenophon in to play. In 1998, Xenophon voted with Cameron and the government to proceed with the second reading of the ETSA power sale bill. The bill became law when Cameron and Crothers voted with the Liberal government. They subsequently resigned from
602-475: The Australian Labor Party. The privatisation involved the disaggregation of the vertically integrated business, with the generation, transmission, distribution and retail assets taken up by distinct investors. However, the South Australian Government retained freehold ownership of the generation, transmission and distribution assets, with the investors acquiring long term leasehold interests in
645-892: The Colonisation Commission and creating a Legislative Council of eight people (including the Governor) to exercise the legislative power of the colony. In 1850 the British Parliament passed the Australian Constitutions Act 1850 , which empowered the Legislative Council to alter its own composition. The Legislative Council responded by passing the Constitution Act 1856 , which created a bicameral parliament and an executive responsible to it. Boyle Finniss
688-538: The Commonwealth. In 1934, the Constitution Act 1856 was repealed and replaced with the Constitution Act 1934 , which remains in force today with amendments. South Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system , a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom . Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of
731-923: The English Brush Electrical Engineering Company along with the Electric Lighting and Traction Company of Australia , which had interests in Victoria , bought the company, with all of its assets. In 1900 the City of Adelaide signed a contract with the South Australian Electric Light and Motive Power Company to provide the power for King William Street 's lighting, which also enabled the provision of electricity to private customers. A temporary generating plant in Tam O’Shanter Place at
774-649: The Liberals having enacted privatisation, then the Rann government approving the price increases. Further price increases followed, and by 1 July 2017 led to South Australia having the highest electricity prices in the world. With the closure of South Australia’s coal plants there was a rapid increase in solar and wind energy, backed by large-scale batteries. As this penetration of renewables has started to flow through to generation prices, South Australia now has more competitive retail pricing. ETSA headquarters were for years in
817-646: The Nomenclature Committee. Since 1951, its boundaries have varied as follows. A portion was renamed as North Haven while another portion was added to the suburb of North Haven. In March 2006, its boundaries were varied to ensure that the Osborne Maritime Precinct was within its boundaries. In August 2009, its eastern boundary was extended to the centre of the Port River . Osborneville Post Office opened around 1922; it
860-643: The appointment to official positions in the colony, immigration, and customs matters. When federation occurred in 1901, South Australia became a state of the Commonwealth of Australia under the Constitution of Australia , which regulates the South Australia's relationship with the Commonwealth. The state ceded certain executive powers (such as defence and customs), but retained powers in all matters not withdrawn from them or in conflict with
903-483: The assets. Also, the Government introduced a regime of industry regulation, calculated to ensure that the public interest was protected and that safety standards are maintained. The purchaser of the distribution business took the name "ETSA Utilities" (later renamed " SA Power Networks "), while the acquirers of the other parts of the business adopted distinct identities for their businesses. With privatisation came
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#1732798155414946-448: The authority to make laws, and Colonisation Commissioners who were responsible for the sale of land to settlers to fund the colony. This structure was found to be troublesome as the commission had control of the funds rather than the Governor, and as a result in 1838, the Governor was appointed Resident Commissioner to resolve conflict. In 1842 the British Parliament reorganised the structure of South Australia's governance by abolishing
989-616: The cheapest and most efficient electricity networks in the world. The same low price for electricity was charged in Mount Gambier as it was at the point of production at Torrens Island . Following the deregulation of the state's electricity market from 1 January 2003, AGL's electricity prices increased by an average 23.7%. This continued as a political sore point for both the Labor and Liberal Parties in South Australia: with
1032-461: The company extended electricity supply via a network of substations to most of the suburbs and other settled areas of the state, as well as the electric tramway system in Adelaide , by 1926. The invention and use of the Stobie pole contributed to the success of the rollout by the company. In 1912 the original building was substantially remodelled into a double-storey building that included offices,
1075-432: The corner of Devonshire Place (off Grenfell Street ) began supplying electricity to Adelaide in 1900. Wheadon in the meantime created plans for a new coal-fired power station on the corner of Grenfell Street and East Terrace , with the main buildings fronting Grenfell Street designed by South Australian architect Alfred Wells in a single-storey design. The new power station, incorporating boilers, steam generators and
1118-584: The east by the suburb of Torrens Island . Osborne originally started as a private sub-division in Section 2015 in the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Port Adelaide . It was named after Captain R.W. Osborne (c.1834-1920). A portion was subsequently added to North Haven. The name was "formally submitted by the City of Port Adelaide at a council meeting held on 10 May 1945" and was formally adopted in 1951 by
1161-434: The establishment of a competitive retail market for electricity. The retailing component of ETSA was acquired by AGL . With the advent of competition, other electricity retailers entered the marketplace, offering consumers choice- competition focussing on tariffs and discounts for "bundling" of gas and electricity supply from one retailer. Although the state's fiscal situation was substantially improved with funds derived from
1204-490: The extent of buying boilers that could only use black coal . Playford responded by requesting Commonwealth funds to nationalise the company, which was provided by Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley . The Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA) was created in September 1946 for the nationalisation of AESC. Chief engineer F.W.H. Wheadon, who had led AESC for 48 years, retired at this point, aged around 73. The LCL suffered
1247-560: The following 14 Labor Party members and 1 Independent member: The South Australian Government delivers services, determines policy and regulations, including legal interpretation, by a number of agencies grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a government minister who is a member of the Parliament. As of September 2024 there were 14 government departments and 14 specialised agencies listed on sa.gov.au, being: A range of other agencies support
1290-578: The functions of these departments. Osborne, South Australia Osborne is a suburb in the Australian state of South Australia located on the Lefevre Peninsula in the west of Adelaide about 21 kilometres (13 miles) north-west of the Adelaide city centre . Osborne is bounded to the south by the suburb of Taperoo , to the west by Gulf St Vincent and to the north west by the suburbs of North Haven and Outer Harbor and to
1333-730: The government proceeded with privatisation plans citing the dire financial situation, with new information such as a warning from the State Auditor General and the introduction of the Australian National Electricity Market . Following the 1997 state election, the Olsen Liberal government needed the support of an additional two non-Liberal upper house members to pass legislation, with the Australian Democrats retaining
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1376-483: The governor and senior ministers. The Governor plays an important practical role under the state's constitution and fulfils a symbolic role as local head of state. The Governor is appointed by the King and, for most practical purposes, exercises His Majesty's powers in the state. These include the fundamental powers to dissolve Parliament, call elections and appoint and dismiss ministers. The Governor in Executive Council
1419-595: The offices facing Grenfell Street) remained in the ownership of the company, being leased out for use as a TAFE college for some time. The building was heritage-listed on the South Australian Heritage Register in November 1984. In 1989 the building was acquired by the state and federal governments for the creation of Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute . The old converter stations face East Terrace. Converter Station No. 1
1462-546: The power output at that site, and started working on plans for a new site at Osborne on the Port River . Construction was delayed by the outbreak of World War I in 1918. In August 1923, AESC opened the Osborne 'A' Power Station near Port Adelaide on an 84-year term lease, and two years later, the Grenfell Street Power Station closed down. The main building of the old power station (including
1505-496: The sell-off, debate continued as to whether ETSA's privatisation has been to the benefit of the South Australian community. It was estimated that with higher electricity prices, the net loss from ETSA would total between $ 2 and 3 billion over a ten-year period. ETSA participated in the post-war growth and industrialisation of the South Australian economy, including providing modern and reliable power for regional areas. As
1548-551: The streets of Port Adelaide on 1 January 1899, but the quality was poor. Around the turn of the century, things started to change, firstly through the appointment of engineer Frederick William Herbert Wheadon (1872–1947) to the company in 1899, and then through British interests in the company. The directors of the SA Electric Light and Motive Power company were based in London , and in the same year, assisted by Wheadon,
1591-531: The suburb – route 333 that runs between the suburb and Port Adelaide and route 150 that starts on Victoria Road within the suburb and continues to the Adelaide city centre. The Outer Harbor railway line has two stations that serving the suburb – Midlunga railway station and the Osborne railway station which is located nearby in the suburb of North Haven. Osborne is also traversed by the Dry Creek–Port Adelaide railway line which carries freight to
1634-528: Was appointed the first Premier of South Australia as part of an interrim executive until elections to the new Parliament could be held in 1857 . The executive comprised ministers selected from the Parliament and the Governor was no longer able to unilaterally make most decisions. The new Parliament and Executive took over almost all of the powers held by the Secretary of State for the Colonies regarding
1677-436: Was completed in 1954, Playford B in 1963 and later Northern in 1985, and on Torrens Island . The combined Playford A and B plants had a total generating capacity of 330 megawatts (440,000 hp). Northern Power Station was fuelled by Leigh Creek coal. The use of large excavating machines and efficient mining equipment at Leigh Creek, together with the rebuilding of a railway line between Leigh Creek and Port Augusta by
1720-422: Was considered feasible. Exploratory boring started in 1941 and plans were made to develop the first open-cut mine. The South Australian Government , led by Liberal and Country League (later Liberal Party of South Australia) Premier Tom Playford , had committed to the use of Leigh Creek coal, and excavation started in 1943. In 1946, AESC refused to use Leigh Creek coal as proposed by the government, even going to
1763-694: Was established via letters patent by King William IV in February of 1836, pursuant to the South Australian Colonisation Act 1834 . Governance in the colony was organised according to the principles developed by Edward Wakefield , where settlement would be conducted by free settlers rather than convicts. Therefore governance would be divided between the Governor who was responsible to the British Crown and tasked with
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1806-559: Was in operation from 1901 to 1925, and the adjacent on from 1923 to 1967. There is an "Historic Engineering Plaque" on a ground level plinth just east of the north-east corner of the building, which was dedicated by the Institution of Engineers , ETSA and the Adelaide City Council on 6 April 1995. The boilers in the Osborne station initially used black coal imported from New South Wales , which, until 1946, held
1849-558: Was renamed Taperoo on 1 February 1964, and North Haven in 1989. Osborne was also known as Brooklyn after the name change from Osborneville. Osborne is the home of a number of industrial employers, including Osborne is the home of LeFevre Reserve, which also hosts a community centre. There are no schools in the suburb. The closest schools are in the adjacent suburbs of North Haven (North Haven School R-7) and Taperoo (Ocean View College B-12), (originally Taperoo High School). Adelaide Metro provides two bus services that directly serve
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