Vertical Retort Building Launceston Gasworks

labeled cutaway diagram of vertical retort house s internal components

inside, coal transported top level deposited in long hopper @ top level of building (which contains conveyor drive , water tank). hopper, coal fed via single chute vertical retort block divided 8 separate retorts, heated furnaces (and later additional steel furnace in room) located on first floor (ground level). extracted gas collected in 2 parallel collector mains running along top of retort block. accumulated tar , liquor drained collector mains small liquor separating tank on 3rd floor on western side of building. collected gas forced through retort governor (recently removed scrap) , foul main runs down of retort house purified elsewhere on site. horizontal retorts, vertical retort run on newcastle coal imported new south wales. in 1950s, modifications made gasworks allow site use fingal coal fingal valley in north east tasmania.

unlike many gasworks sites in australia either demolished or stripped after closure, vertical retort house in launceston still retained of original machinery after abandoned. both electric coke extractor eccentric , conveyor drive remained intact within building along of fourth floor machinery. waste heat boiler on sublevel 3 had been reduced in size due salvage operations in 1980s waste heat boiler on first floor (ground level) partially dismantled. original brick furnaces (producer blocks) @ front of building dismantled exception of free-standing, brick archway used allow conveyor pass through furnace block. original lighting , electronic equipment still remained within building both on first floor , electrical room on 3rd floor @ of building. coke extractors on underside of retort blocks in various levels of salvage complete being located @ rear of building.

since abandoned in favor of lpg in 1977, vertical retort left fall ruin large piles of droppings cover floor , machinery due pigeons used building roost because of many openings in brickwork. in late july 2012, of building underwent cleaning remove accumulated waste interior before scrapping , internal demolition stripped building of heritage value make way building proposal.