Thread: Where to get used power poles in Victoria?

In the days prior to privatisation you used to be able to buy them from SEC for firewood but you had to collect them from where they had been pulled out.
Perhaps check with Jemena or the other power companies

Be very careful, the modern poles are treated with nasty stuff (worse than H4)

Consider what and where you use them, as it really can be quite nasty.

For a shed or fence, they should be fine, if you can move them around. As said, most are treated. the older ones with creosote, which is banned now for that use as it is carcinogenic. Cutting up a pole that is creosote treated is horrible, bad for you and the smell gets stuck in the saw and your clothes, let alone what it does to your body. You will know whether it is creosote treated as soon as you put your nose to one, let alone cut into one.
I used to get them to block off cars from driving into council reserves. Best just to get on the phone to Jemena, Citpower etc. It may take quite a few calls, but if you pay for cartage, often they are free ( or maybe the cost of a slab)
Modern poles I think are H4 cca treated like treated pine.
The guys who go around inspecting them drill holes in the base and slip in insecticidal pellets of some sort. you can see the plastic plugs on the bottom of the poles around Melbourne.

They call the really old ones Burners, as they may not be treated, but I wouldnt risk burning them for the reasons above, and previously mentioned. Disposing of the residues could be a pain if treated.

Hi Greg,
The ones they wood be removing, are most likely not as bad as some are making out.
The poles they are referring to, are still in the ground,
You may come up against some Creosoted ones, & you may get some good ones. The Pinus Poles, you wood not touch anyway, & yes they have been Treated.
To use them, you have to take the bottom off that has been in the ground, but then again, you can turn them upside down.
You are not Supposed to put the ground piece back in the ground, as that is why they are being removed.
Advisable to say they are for Fence Posts ?.
As said, get in touch with Powercor or others. You may have to buy them. Most of the holes in the Pole can be filled with Corks or what ever. Sometimes they may deliver them, & that may depend on how you treat the Workers, if you get my drift.
They really had some fine Wood in the old days.
Here in Geelong, Vic. there are still some Iron Bark Poles put in the ground in 1900.
The Brass Discs are very much sought after by the Linesman.
The Aluminum ones appeared in 1958.
Most likely say : SEC 45 ( ft.) MM ( Messmate) TW ( Tallow Wood ) IB ( Iron Bark ) 38. ( 1938 )

Could also try Australian Reclaimed timbers in Hastings.

Australian Reclaimed Timbers - 0415 297 937 - Hastings (VIC) -

Not sure if your still looking?
Found these. Sorry only 6 hours to go. Doubt he will sell them all though
POWER POLES, TIMBER | eBay

G'day again,
Thanks to everyone for the replies, I havn't been back to this forum for a while, I usually hang out in the metalwork area.
My dad worked for the old SEC and he used to get poles from the linies for fence posts. I rememer digging out the brass disks as souvineers, they're still around somewhere.
They were the old octagonal ones and I reckon it must be thirty years ago and most are still as good as the day they went in.

What roused my interest was a shelter at a reserve in Oak Park that had been built out of old poles and I thought it looked great.
The poles don't appear to have been treated, at least not with creosote anyway and as it's right next to a playground I figure it must be fairly safe.

I just like the idea of using something that will probably only be chipped or burned somewhere which seems like a waste.
Of course if I also figured they would be about the cheapest option as well.

I will try and ring one of the power companies to see what the go is and next time I see the linies replacing a pole I might pull over and check with them.
Cheers,
Greg.