The heritage-listed Old Substation in Paddington will receive $1.5 million from the Federal Government for maintenance, repairs and refurbishment, as part of the $40.7-million funding for various infrastructure projects around Brisbane.
The Old Substation is one of 41 other sites that will be refurbished in the coming months. The projects will also cover parkland developments, community centre upgrades, roadwork projects and accessibility improvements.
Council has yet to determine when the repair work will start.
Built as an electrical substation in the 1930s, Paddington’s Old Substation was operational for more than 30 years. By the 1980s, it became the home of Hands On Art, an initiative that offers art programs and classes, exhibits and performances, markets and other events to support the suburb’s thriving creative community.
The art hub is still open even today and continues to deliver services to the community. However, as the building has aged, safety issues have become a primary concern for the locals that frequent the Old Substation.
“Grants like this provide a much-needed economic boost to our city, which is so important as we band together to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said. “These local projects put money into the pockets of local suppliers and residents, with the projects to support an additional 320 jobs throughout 2021.”
The Old Substation was entered into the Queensland Heritage Listing in 1993 as a significant, historical site that contributed to the progress and development of Brisbane and the inner west. Constructed of bricks and steel, the substation was the seventh in the network of tramways in Brisbane and was designed to assist the Petrie Terrace substation.
