Gas Stripping Tower in West End, Australia

Set along the beautiful, tree-lined banks of the Brisbane River, this heritage-listed artifact is a reminder of the history of the area. The demountable cast iron tower was manufactured in 1912 by Robert Dempster & Sons Ltd, of Elland, Yorkshire, and transported in segments to Brisbane, where it was erected at the West End Gasworks in Montague Road operated by the South Brisbane Gas & Light Company. The tower was used in the removal of tar and ammonia from raw coal gas by Gas Stripping. Gas was piped into the base of the tower, from where it rose to the top via a series of internal baffles over which water was sprayed from a header tank at the top of the tower, stripping the gas of coal tar and ammonia in the process. The liquid was drained via a water seal at the bottom, and sold as ammonia liquor.