Showtime for local historic boiler house

Tedory Hreszczuk, 89, employed in the boiler house from 1955 until 1984, last week ventured onto the site of the heritage-listed West Ryde Pumping Station for the first time in over 25 years.

Mr Hreszczuk, an employee in the boiler house from 1955 until 1984, said the tour of the site brought back fond memories of years gone by.

“It was a good life. We were all very happy with our job. It was very special,” he said.

The boiler house attendant, who witnessed first hand the transition of the pumping station from steam to electricity, was happy to see the site had been restored.

Joining Mr Hreszczuk on the tour last week were Ryde MP John Watkins and Minister for Water Nathan Rees.

“The boiler house was used between 1921 and 1982 to generate steam to power the large pumps in the West Ryde Water Pumping Station,” Mr Watkins said.

“The building is a reflection of the industrial steam age, and a testimony to all the workers who toiled long and hard in conditions that wouldn’t be tolerated today.”

While the pump hall continues to operate and provide water to much of northern Sydney, the boiler house was stripped, and soon fell into disrepair.

A sad and sorry sight for 20 years, the marked building was given a reprieve in 2002 when the entire Victoria Road site was listed on the State Heritage Register.

The rail viaduct, built for the coal wagons, was also restored, allowing visitors to walk into the upper level of the building.

The boiler house was last week opened to the public for tours, as part of Heritage Week.

It will be fitted out to store Sydney Water’s heritage collection, including objects representing the organisation’s engineering and corporate history.

The restored boiler house (above) at West Ryde Pumping Station, with the preserved rail line. Carriages once carried coal along the viaduct into the boiler house where it was dropped into the fires below.

Former employee Tedory Hreszczuk (centre), employed in the boiler house from 1955 until 1984, reminisces about old times with Ryde MP John Watkins and Minister for Water Nathan Rees.

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