Newcastle City Council began to generate electricity for street lighting in 1890. Within two years it was increasing electrification and a district supply was established. By 1937, the Newcastle Electricity Supply Council Administration was providing over 87 million Kilowatt hours of power and had outgrown its office space in City Hall. The Council decided to construct an administration centre for the electricity department on the parcel of land next to the City Hall. Emil Sodersteen, the architect responsible for the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, was chosen to produce the design. Sodersteen’s new building was designed to complement the City Hall and was constructed from similar sandstone. Despite its consideration of the grand and traditional building next door, NESCA House demonstrates a strong influence from Art Deco and European Modernist styling. The building housed a demonstration theatre, showroom, administrative and business offices, and staff accommodation. It opened in 1938 and performed a variety of roles until The University of Newcastle took over the site in 1995 and it became known as University House.