Electrical Trades
The first electric light installation was established at Midland Junction in 1898, operating the Ways and Works Workshop for the manufacture of railway lines. When the Railway Workshops were transferred from Fremantle to Midland Junction in 1904 they were fitted with state of the art electrical installations, and electricians were an integral part of the workforce. Domestic electrical installations soon followed in the developing town, creating many opportunities for the establishment of small electrical businesses.
The Swan Express 11 May 1914
G Jocelyn
ELECTRICIAN
MIDLAND JUNCTION GUILDFORD
AND WEST GUILDFORDHaving started business next door to the Midland Electric Sub station, will be pleased to execute all orders for
HOUSE INSTALATIONS, MOTORS AND ALL CLASSES OF ELECTRICAL WORK.
All work done strictly to the Fire Underwriters’ Rules
Although specific electrical training was not offered at Midland until 1985, some of the School’s first students played leading roles in the history of electricity in this State.
James Clough, who won scholarships in Geometry in 1905 and Mechanical Drawing in 1907 and 1908 became the foreman of the Electrical Shop at the Workshops in 1928. One of his main achievements was to ensure that the Workshops had the latest equipment and systems in use for railway safe working. Many of these safe-working practices form the basis of the trade’s stringent safety practices in Western Australia.
Another of the first scholarship winners at the School, John Charles King became Chief Engineer of the East Perth Power Station and Sub Head of the State Electricity Department. Cyril Carter whose first taste of Mechanical Drawing was at Midland in 1925 worked under John Charles King and was later closely involved with the planning of four other major power stations in the State.
Since the beginning of the 20th Century, electricians have been in demand through all stages of the State’s development: from establishing basic infrastructures, to setting up industries, to installing domestic wiring. During World War 11 electricians employed by the Railways were man-powered to work on Beaufort Bombers.
The basic principles of the trade have remained consistent, however the introduction of plastic conduit in the 1960s and 70s and the advent of programmable logic controllers in the 1980s changed how things were done.
The mining boom in the 1970s created the need to train many more tradesmen, including electricians.
Plans to built a new technical education training facility at Midland not only allowed for the introduction of Electrical Training, it also offered the opportunity to create a purpose built workshop. A 'think tank' of electrical lecturers with trade backgrounds ranging from railways, to the armed forces, to small businesses came up with the ideal facility for electrical training.
Many of the early apprentices were from the Midland Railway Workshops, and a surplus of staff was created with their closure in 1993. Some of the foundation lecturers opted for a voluntary redundancy. Since that time apprentices from local contracting firms have made up the bulk of students.
Thanks to Lyall Favas for assistance with this industry profile.