Top Of Retort

The upper section of a retort vessel at the Bathurst Gasworks holds the marks of decades of high-temperature operation. Brickwork rises in coursed bond around the top of the chamber, with the corroded steel of the upper plate sitting across it. Bolt heads and flange faces protrude from the cladding, rusted in place. The coal feed port is visible in the background of the frame, set into the upper structure of the retort. In the foreground stands a heavy piece of equipment of uncertain function: possibly a pulveriser used to size coal before charging into the retort, although the identification is not confirmed. Surfaces around the working face have weathered to a darker tone where coal tar and soot built up during operation.

Retorts at the Bathurst Gasworks did the chemistry of coal-gas production. Coal was charged into the chamber, sealed, and heated to drive off the volatile hydrocarbons as a gas mixture. The crude gas left through the off-take above; coke remained behind for raking and sale; coal tar dropped out at lower stages. The Bathurst Gasworks operated on this principle from 1888 until 1979 under council management, with the plant rebuilt around 1960. AGL converted the site to LPG reforming from 1979 to 1987, retiring the coal-carbonisation operation but using the same retort house structures. The vessels themselves have not been fired since 1979.