Gas Works Park Dog Off Leash Area

20 Mitchell Street, Kyneton VIC, 3444


An L-shaped grassy area dotted with some trees with paths running through it. There is a shelter with table and a seat beside the path. No bin or water tap.

Map of Dog Off Leash Area

THE HISTORY OF THE KYNETON GAS COMPANY
Kyneton was the second township within the Colony of Victoria (Melbourne being the first) to benefit from the formation of a Gasworks. The Kyneton Gasworks were operational prior to the formation of Gasworks in many of the larger towns throughout Victoria. The Kyneton Gasworks was unique in its use of eucalyptus (gum) leaves in its original production of gas.

An English engineer, Godfrey William Praagst was the man behind this novel use of an indigenous leaf. Soon after his arrival in Victoria in 1856 Praagst conducted experiments which confirmed his opinion that gum leaves could be substituted for coal in the gas making process. In January 1857 he conducted a practical demonstration of his process at Mr Edward English's Carlsruh's hotel.

"although the appliances were very limited and crude, I successfully introduced a brilliant light, so much to the satisfaction of the proprietor, Mr English, as to induce him not only to have a large supply of burners into his house but to inaugurate the event by a ball and supper"

The people of Kyneton were also impressed by Mr Praagst's work and a Public Meeting was called to form a Gas Company for Kyneton. In 1858 Kyneton's principal buildings were lit by gas, with Piper And Ebden Streets being the first streets to have gas mains. In September 1858 the production of gas was halted due to a fire that substantially damaged the Gasworks building.

The Kyneton Gas Company was formed and registered in April 1857, with a copy of the company prospectus published in both of the Kyneton newspapers, The Herald and the Kyneton Observer. By 1878 the Gas works operated by coal instead of gum leaves. The Kyneton Gas Company was a private business with various owners before being purchased by the Shire of Kyneton in 1886. The Shire sold the Gas Works to the Victorian Gas & Fuel Corporation in 1955.

The Gas & Fuel Corporation demolished the old plant and built a new Tempered Liquefied Petroleum Plant on this site in 1960. Today this type of gas supply has been superseded by Natural Gas.

This park which was opened in 2001, is on the site of the Old Kyneton Gas Works. The Kyneton Gasworks Community Park is now under the management of the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.