Factory chimneys

Behind the impressive main administration building is an industrial factory complex where for over 90 years we refined all the gold deposited at the Mint. The tall chimney to the west is the chimney to the original Melting House where you can witness our Gold Pourers doing traditional gold pours as part of The Perth Mint Gold Tour.

The tall central chimney poking up behind the main building belonged to the Boiler House, located adjacent to the Engine Room. Originally factory machinery was driven by steam power. Steam power was transferred as mechanical power via a system of metal shafting that rotated constantly to turn a network of gears, pulleys, and leather belts.

The Perth Mint under construction, circa 1987. The tall chimney is the boiler house chimney.
Credit: The Perth Mint

Machinery in the Coining Room was laid out parallel to the steam engine, as this enabled the most direct transfer of power. The rolling mills were connected via metal shafting while the coining presses were attached to an overhead line shaft that transferred power via a rotating leather belt. The large flywheels on the coin presses smoothed out the rotations of the shafts making the steam engine provide a smooth constant speed and torque, rather than it jump around as the steam pistons performed each stroke.