Summary

Black and white silver gelatin photograph, inside the Machine Hall, featuring two electric motor driven centrifugal refrigeration compressors, Power House, Building 11, Kodak factory, Coburg, circa 1961.

The two electric motor driven centrifugal refrigeration compressors shown in the photograph were rated at 1.6MW (450 Ton) each. They provided chilled water at 3ºC for cooling and air conditioning via the reticulated services gantry. Along with three temporary packaged steam boilers, these chillers were the first equipment to be installed in the Machinery Hall for the factory start-up period 1958-60. Following Stage 2 construction during 1960-61, these chillers formed part of the tightly integrated heating, cooling and electrical equipment of the Power House. In this view, the condenser water and chilled water shell and tube heat exchangers are visible directly behind the electric motor/compressor sets. The trussed roof, high windows and overhead crane rail of the machinery hall can be seen in the background.

When completed, Building 11 consisted of an integrated machinery hall with its north & south annexes, boiler hall, evaporative water cooling towers, a 62 metre brick chimney stack, oil bunkers, tank farm and office/amenities block. This fully integrated Power House provided the most efficient use of electricity and fuel oil (and later natural gas) to match the variable load of the factory.

Kodak manufactured and distributed a wide range of photographic products to Australasia, such as, film, paper, chemicals, cameras and miscellaneous equipment. Its client base included amateur and professional photographers as well as specialist medical and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.

This photograph is part of the Kodak collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005 after the manufacturing plant at Coburg had closed down the year before.

Description of Content

Large centrifugal compressors situated on cement floor in a hanger style building, with steel trussed roof and windows lining the wall in the background. Behind the centrifugal compressors are large pipes running horizontally.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin photograph printed on light weight paper, landscape format.

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