The Government of Queensland decided that there should be one electrical authority for South East Queensland in 1961. The Southern Electric Authority of Queensland (SEAQ), absorbed not only the City Electric Light Company which supplied Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but also Toowoomba Electric Light and Power Company, which also covered some areas west of the Great Dividing Range. The new authority was considered a major step forward in electrical progress. Its establishment prepared the way forward for future amalgamation of power supply in South East Queensland. The Brisbane City Council's Department of Electricity continued to supply the Brisbane City suburban area, but not the inner city area. This meant that the City Council's Newfarm power station was in the Southern Electric Authorities' area of supply and the Southern Electric Authorities' Swanbank power station was in the City Council's area of supply.