Kyneton in Macedon Ranges Shire, Victoria, Australia — Oceania
Kyneton Gasworks Community Park
The History of the Kyneton Gas Company
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, August 31, 2026
1. Kyneton Gasworks Community Park Marker
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 Carlsruhe 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
this page online
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 Today this type of gas supply has been superseded by Natural Gas.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.
Erected by Kyneton and District Heritage
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, August 31, 2026
2. Kyneton Gasworks Community Park Marker in the Park
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1857.
Location. 37° 14.587′ S, 144° 27.097′ E. Marker is in Kyneton, Victoria, in Macedon Ranges Shire. It is at the intersection of Mitchell Street and Ebden Street, on the left when traveling east on Mitchell Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Mitchell Street, Kyneton VIC 3444, Australia. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Oceania, in Australasia, in the Pacific Ocean, in South Pacific, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Royal George Hotel (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Willis Steam Mill (about 150 meters away); G.W. Willis's Mill (about 150 meters away); WT Jones & Son Stonemason (about 180 meters away); Old Bank of New South Wales (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Kyneton Museum - National Trust (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Kyneton Museum (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Our Lady of the Rosary (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kyneton.
Also see . . . Gas Works. Victorian Heritage Database
as was manufactured on the site from 1858 until being superseded by the introduction of liquefied Petroleum gas. The Kyneton gas works were unusual in being the first constructed outside Melbourne rather than in a larger town and also for the fact that the gas was first produced from gum leaves. Unreliable supply interruptions however, saw the transformation to gas produced from coal. Demolished c.1965(Submitted on October 11, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
