They're destroying my favourite powerstation [pics]
 

Ah, it was bound to happen.

This glorious old powerstation has been abandoned for years, and has been quietly chilling by the river.
Years ago we used to be able to hop in, run around making as much noise as we wanted- it's a huge place, and had heaps to explore.

As time went on, security got tighter to the point that there were 3 trained guard dogs roaming the place.

At the start of the year, it was made public that the place was getting destroyed to build tennis courts.

We snuck in despite the dogs to have a look (and got chased out .. angry dogs)

And now, it's finally begun. Pretty crazy, kinda sad.

From 2002--
http://ninjito.com/dump/qx-tps-4.jpg

To the same place, tonight:
http://ninjito.com/dump/2006-05-18/qx-tps-1.jpg

http://ninjito.com/dump/2006-05-18/qx-tps-3.jpg
http://ninjito.com/dump/2006-05-18/qx-tps-2.jpg

Sigh. Hope you enjoy the snaps thought :D :D

Hey quantum-x, here's something I came across recently... a 200+ hectare explosives depot which is now being nudged by suburban sprawl. In fact, the base has been abandoned and the land is now owned by a residential developer, although the portion that most of the ~15 buildings sit on has to be donated to Melbourne Water. I presume they'll be demolished eventually as they currently pose a safety hazard due to the asbestos used in the walls.

It's been off limits to the public for 60+ years and once MW takes possession it will stay off limits.


http://satin.sensation.net.au/rowan/sm_F9N6927.JPG
These are the "Y" labs which are distantly visible from public parkland in the Greenvale Reservoir. Apart from that point you wouldn't know the base is there.

http://satin.sensation.net.au/rowan/sm_F9N7133.JPG
Strange symbols to write on the walls of a warehouse which stores devices designed to explode and kill humans...

There isn't really anything breathtaking like huge machinery, but if you hunt around you can find interesting things. One of the warehouse entry doors has written on it:

<swastika logo>
HIEL HITLER
12/2/42
I AM A GERMAN SPY AGENT
NO 10015679

I love your photography skills

Damn, nice stuff mate. I'm not super familiar w/ melbourne locations, but I know I haven't heard of this before. Got a mate heading down there in a few weeks, he should check it out. Nice spotting! :D :D

photos are amazing!

Those are some awesome photos.

You should buy that plant and transform it into your pimp pad.

this one looks like a building they use on horror movies. Nice photos :thumbsup

It's got some great 1960s industrial architecture!

I love the yellow brick.

In a few weeks the land will probably be handed over to MW, and it's a pretty serious offence if you're caught inside a government water catchment area. At the moment they have security guards patrolling the base, I dunno what will happen once it's handed over. Presumably the asbestos is a public safety issue so that's why they are vigilant with security.

I've spent over 12 hours in 3 visits there and I'm still not done. I've taken about 500 stills and 30 mins of video footage. I'll be returning at least one more time, perhaps two if I can make it. BTW, I actually do have permission to be there. :winkwink:

Here's a pic of some retro electrics... I wonder what happened to the guy who drilled the asbestos sheet wall to install it. Note also the blast wall to the left.

http://satin.sensation.net.au/rowan/sm_F9N7030.JPG

this pic is amazing!

http://ninjito.com/dump/2006-05-18/qx-tps-2.jpg

One of the coolest features of this place is its brickwork - as you'll notice, it's pretty much entirely square-built in dimension, but then riiight up the top there are these lovely curves they put in - it makes no sense, but it's a really cool 'easter egg' of the building..

Another, to the right of this shot is the room w/ all the windows - the roof is done like a checkerboard. Really cool :D

Nice stuff again. What's your position to have access?

Access is a weird thing. Some things that SHOULD be locked up never are, and other things that aren't should be.
I've done quite a bit of BW stuff - some locations they're really sensitive over, others they're not.

In this situ, this building is also government owned- and commonwealth trespass is a criminal offence, not a tort like regular trespass.
One of those things, I guess.

We had the reflection a while ago, it's all a little bit weird - going to such extreme lengths / risks just to take photos - it's very harmless, but you'd never get away with it :D

how was that taken?

a fisheye lens on a long exposure?

Its always a sad day when yet another urbex location is demo'd.

At least you got some good shots to document it. Looks like it was an awesome place.

That was ... 45 seconds, f4.0, ISO 200 on a 17mm rectalinear.

The portrait shot of the PS, f5.6, 3 minutes, iso 200.

The shot inside, 11 minutes f4.0, iso 350. (it was DARK!)

I bought a block of land from the company that owns the old base. :) I had seen the area marked as "commonwealth land - no public access" in a street directory so when we were in the process of securing the block I asked the sales guy what it was, and he offered to take me in for a tour. I wasn't sure if it was just a frivolous comment but I asked him again about a month later and he said it was no prob. When I actually turned up on the day he specified he had forgotten about it completely. :1orglaugh He was fairly busy that day so he let me go in by myself; that was so much better as I didn't need to worry about imposing on someone else's time. Considering how large it is - it takes 10 mins just to drive the perimeter road @40km/hr - I was very lucky to have basically unrestricted access to wander around and do my own thing.

Two out of the three times I was the only person on the base. It's quite hilly so it is very strange to feel completely alone (visually) but still be able to hear the occasional sound like a school bell or a truck's engine brake.

I don't know exactly when MW take over but I know it's pretty soon, so I'm trying to get as much done as possible. I still have to do some 360 degree panoramas and some general wide landscapes but the weather has been absolutely shitty lately. Overcast skies are not cool

wtf is a powerstation

Converts energy to electricity? eg steam produced from the heat of burning coal turns generators that produce electricity.

Think you call them powerhouses.

Sounds great - and a lucky situation to be in :)
Personally, I actually prefer grey skies - it helps you to get a more even exposure - less contrast between highlight and shadow (ie, direct sunlight) :)

How wide is your lense on this?

Great shots. :thumbsup

....nice pix! I see skills in here :thumbsup

17MM there mate. The place is massive :D

I assume a full-sensor?

I love that shot, do you print and frame a lot of your work? you should offfer a pc wallpaper site....or something...

Wow.. the shots you take are amazing

Yeah, a grey sky is fine, but "blowout white" is not. :winkwink: You can bracket exposures and combine them but it's nicer to be able to get the shot without excessive post processing...

the last pic is crazy! looks like its from a movie! lol

life WILL go on!

Nice pics Quantum :)

You really have an eye for a good place! nice pics :thumbsup

One day I hope to be able to speak cam-geek as well as that so I can translate.

I'll shed a tear for ya quanti.

You're all right - life does go on, but it's just sad when one of the places you used to be able to run around and relax in gets toppled over.

that looks something like this eh?
http://www.whosfactory.com/

nice pics btw!

Nice pics homie, if I wasn't so slack I'd add some to your thread. Additional, the intro to the scooby doo movie was filmed inside the structure