In 1903, the Public Health Department directed Balmain Council to find alternatives to the open tip dumping of local rubbish. The council invited tenders for a combined garbage destructor and power plant and on 30 September 1909, the newly constructed power station 'A' commenced operation. Power came from 2 Belliss and Morcom high-speed engines coupled to 5000-volt BTH generators. The output was 500 kW from one machine and 250 kW from the other. Steam came from two Babcock & Wilcox chain grate coal-fired boilers plus the destructor boiler. In 1913 two Willans & Robinson 900 kW turbo generators were added. These were further accompanied by a Curtis-BTH 2.5 MW turbine (Number 1) in 1914. A Curtis-BTH 3 MW machine (Number 2) was added in 1922. A 7.5 MW Fraser & Chalmers machine was added in 1923. Steam came from additional Babcock & Wilcox chain grate boilers. This brought "A" Station capacity to 15 MW. In 1928 a 10 MW Curtis - BTH machine (Number 3) was installed, and in 1935 an 18.75 MW AEG turbine (Number 4) was added, bringing total capacity to 41 MW. In 1947 and 1953 the first two Babcock & Wilcox boilers were transferred to Muswellbrook power station.
'B' Station:- A second phase of construction took place between 1940 and 1950. A 9.4 MW English Electric back pressure turbine (Number 5) was installed. This was a high-pressure turbine that sent its exhaust steam to the "A" Station lower-pressure turbines. 1952 saw the addition of a 25 MW Parsons steam turbine (Number 6). Two more Parsons 25 MW machines (Number 7 and Number 8) were added by 1956. Steam for machines 5–8 was supplied by four high-pressure Babcock & Wilcox pulverized coal boilers. This doubled the generation capacity of the plant, bringing it to 126.2 MW.
The pump house traditionally transmitted power all over the area, you will need to use a bit of wire with a slight bend at the end to find this treasure, its hidden in the wall at knee height. The pump house is a delightful structure with many walkers and joggers travelling through it 24 hours a day.
The original station was a private facility, owned by the Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation (EL&PSC), which supplied electricity to consumers and businesses in Balmain, Leichhardt, Ashfield, Newtown and Petersham. It also supplied power to large enterprises in the local area including Mort's Dock and the Balmain Colliery.
The Balmain Electric Light Company Purchase Act 1950 (NSW) enabled the acquisition of the plant by the Electricity Commission of New South Wales. A legal dispute over the valuation of the power station then ensued which delayed the sale until January 1957 when the plant changed hands for £600,000. The plant continued to supply power until 1976 when it was decommissioned.
The cache is is in the pumphouse and can be found 24/7, you do not need to enter the locked part or climb any areas to find it.