Imagine a time when palaces shimmered. They needed light and warmth. That’s when the story of Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi began. It is right here behind me. This wasn’t just any factory. It was the first of its kind in the Ottoman lands.
In 1853 Sultan Abdülmecid approved its construction. The Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi was to produce gas from coal. This gas would light and heat Dolmabahçe Palace. For the first time coal was used to produce gas.
With the surplus, Sultan Abdülmecid illuminated İstiklal Caddesi. Imagine that the first streetlights flickered to life there. This marked a turning point for Istanbul. The city embraced modernity. It began to illuminate its nights.
Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi was strategically located. It was an industrial heritage site. The Gazhane’s equipment came from Europe. France and England supplied the inner workings. Later in 1875 some parts were made locally. These included iron castings from Tophane.
Today only the gazometer part remains. Other units have disappeared. The Gazhane played a key role. It provided the gas that lit up Istanbul’s prominent areas.
Other gas plants followed. The second one was in Beylerbeyi Palace. The third was in Yedikule. The fourth was in Kadıköy. Natural gas eventually made them obsolete.
Dolmabahçe Palace needed a lot of energy. It was like a small self-sufficient city. It required lighting and heating. The Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi was built to meet that need. It was completed in 1855. It was right next to the palace.
The Gazhane was under the control of Hazine-i Hassa. Production was successful. It even produced a surplus within three years.
After the Crimean War ended the palace opened. It happened with a grand ceremony in 1856. The city wanted to light the streets. They turned to the Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi. The Gazhane was then connected to Tophane.
In 1856 Beyoğlu started receiving gas. İstiklal Caddesi became the first illuminated street. Lamps lined the pavements. Gas flowed through pipes from the Gazhane.
After İstiklal Caddesi was lit wealthy families followed. They requested gas for their homes. The glow spread. It soon reached the Galata Tower.
By 1859 Galata and Tophane shone. In 1861 gas reached Talimhane and Saraçhane. A pipe even stretched to Nişantaşı by 1864. The Military Museum was lit by gas-powered lanterns.
Within a decade Beyoğlu Beşiktaş and Harbiye were illuminated. The Dolmabahçe Gazhane İdaresi paid for these expansions. Tophane-i Amire also contributed.
Istanbul’s streets were now bright. Even mosques were lit for special occasions. Sultan Abdülmecid ordered the Naum Theatre to be lit. It was all thanks to the Gazhane.
The Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi served until 1874. By then Beyoğlu enjoyed gas lighting. However the Gazhane faced challenges. It struggled to keep up with new technology. Parts were old and not well-maintained. This led to gas leaks and higher costs.
The city argued that the Gazhane should be managed locally. In 1874 the Gazhane was transferred to the city. Modernization efforts began. New machines replaced old ones. Local industry was supported. Gas pipes were cast in Tophane.
The city managed the Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi for 16 years. In 1889 it was handed over to Tophane-i Amire. In 1909 management returned to the city.
In 1914 the Gazhane was privatized. It was leased to a Turkish company. This company was owned by French bankers. The company modernized the Gazhane.
The company lit Beyoğlu’s streets for free. They also maintained the street lamps. Electricity became more common. The gas found new uses such as cooking.
With the rise of the Republic the contract remained. In 1955 the Gazhane faced a new challenge. İnönü Stadium was expanding. The Gazhane was gradually moved.
Production at Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi ceased in 1960. The company’s contract expired in 1964. The Gazhane became a Turkish-French partnership. In 1984 it was connected to İETT. Production finally ended in 1993. The İETT managed it until then.
Today the Dolmabahçe Gazhanesi stands as a reminder. It reminds us of Istanbul’s early steps towards modernity. It provided light to the palace. It lit the streets. It changed the lives of its residents. It fuelled the city’s vibrant nights.