South Australian Gas Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gas utility |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Founder | Henry Ayers (inaugural Chairman of Directors) |
| Fate | Merged to form SAGASCO Holdings Group in 1988; later acquired by Boral Limited and then Origin Energy |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
Area served | South Australia |
Key people | Henry Ayers (inaugural Chairman of Directors) |
| Products | Coal gas, natural gas distribution |
Number of employees | 1,200+ (1961) |
The South Australian Gas Company (subsequently known as SAGASCO) was founded in 1861, a quarter of a century after the establishment of the colony of South Australia. Beginning operations in 1863, its gasworks played a vital role in supporting local industry, providing employment, illuminating streets, and fueling gas-powered appliances, thereby making a substantial contribution to the economic growth of South Australia, especially in Adelaide.
History
Henry Ayers, a prominent figure in Adelaide with ties to the Burra Burra copper mining ventures, acted as a principal advocate and served as the inaugural Chairman of Directors. The company’s first coal gas facility was located in Brompton, with subsequent expansions including plants at Port Adelaide, Glenelg, Thebarton, Osborne, and other regional locations following the 1878 merger with the Provincial Gas Company.
Commercial production of coal gasification commenced in September 1863. Early processes were labor-intensive, requiring manual coal shoveling and clearing blockages by hand. By 1890, employees had organized into the South Australian Gas Company Employees’ Association to campaign for an eight-hour workday; this group joined the Federated Gas Employees Industrial Union in 1914. Labor relations remained largely peaceful until 1937, when a lock-in strike at Brompton demanded increased allowances. A significant strike occurred between 1946 and 1947, interrupting gas supply across the state for almost two months. The dispute’s resolution included enhanced working conditions and installation of blowers to clear impurities from gas pipelines.
Home services
To encourage gas consumption, the South Australian Gas Company inaugurated a showroom at its Grenfell Street office in 1892. After relocating to King William Street in 1903, female instructors were employed to conduct cooking demonstrations and visit customers who had acquired stoves. The company also published the South Australian Gas Company Cookery Book, which provided stove usage guidance and recipes. From the 1920s onward, the Home Services Division operated out of Waymouth Street, continuing activities such as cooking demonstrations, contests, and radio programming. By 1961, the company served approximately 130,000 customers and employed more than 1,200 staff members, solidifying its position as a key industrial player within South Australia.
Natural gas
In November 1966, the South Australian Gas Company secured Australia's inaugural natural gas purchase agreement, coinciding with the construction of the Moomba Adelaide Pipeline System connecting Moomba to Adelaide. Transitioning to natural gas distribution by 1969 necessitated operational changes including decommissioning certain plants and reducing workforce numbers.
Merger and takeover
The year 1988 saw the South Australian Gas Company merge with South Australian Oil & Gas Corporation Pty Ltd to establish SAGASCO Holdings Group. In October 1993, SAGASCO became a wholly owned subsidiary under Boral Limited. Following Boral’s demerger in 2000, SAGASCO was incorporated into Origin Energy.