Melbourne Hydraulic Service Co

A small reminder of what would be considered today an unusual way to transmit power: via water piped under pressure. The Melbourne Hydraulic Service Co began operations in 1889 and continued providing service through a network of pumping stations and underground pipes for almost another 80 years. A common use was to raise water powered lifts in multi-storey buildings. The system was shut down decades ago, but this and a couple of other access hatches remain in the Melbourne CBD... if you look hard enough.

Image Copyright (C) by Rowan Crowe