Colonial Ammunition Company facts for kids
The Colonial Ammunition Company (CAC) was a company that made ammunition in Auckland, New Zealand. It started in 1885. A man named John Whitney set up an earlier company called Whitney & Sons. He did this with help from the government. This was during a time when people were worried about a possible conflict with Russia.
In 1888, Whitney found more people to invest money. They helped him make his factory bigger. These investors included Greenwood and Batley, who owned a cartridge company in England. Together, they formed the Colonial Ammunition Company. It was the first company in Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) to make military supplies.
At first, parts for the ammunition were made in New Zealand and Australia. Then, they were sent to England to be put together. The finished ammunition was then shipped back to Australia and New Zealand to be sold. After 1925, the company started to make other things too.
During the Second World War, CAC was New Zealand's only factory making ammunition. They increased their workers from 230 to 900 people. Other countries like Australia made much more ammunition because their markets were bigger.
Where Was the Factory?
The company had many buildings in Mount Eden, a suburb of Auckland. This area is now mostly used for shops and businesses. Two important buildings from the original factory are still there today:
- A tall, steel shot tower. It was built around 1916. This tower was used to make lead pellets for shotgun shells. Before this, these pellets were brought in from other countries, mainly the United Kingdom. Local builders W. Wilson and Company built the tower. A man named Mr. Lylie and his two daughters first ran it. They had already been making some lead shot for CAC in Nelson. The tower continued to make money even after World War II. It helped the company keep making things when the need for military ammunition went down. This shot tower is the only one from the 1900s in Australasia. It is also the only shot tower left in New Zealand. Today, it is a special heritage building. People saved it from being torn down in the 1980s.
- A strong building made of bluestone. This building is now a bar and restaurant.
When Japan joined the Second World War, people worried that the Mount Eden factory was too close to the coast. So, the making of ammunition was moved to Hamilton. Equipment was moved, and new buildings were built on Dey Street. Production started there in June 1942. After the war ended, the Hamilton factory closed. All the equipment and production went back to Mount Eden.
Colonial Ammunition Company in Australia
Another factory was built in 1888 in Footscray, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. Captain John Whitney from CAC New Zealand helped start this factory. He worked with some English partners. This Australian company was separate from the New Zealand one.
The Australian government rented this factory from CAC starting in 1921. They bought it completely in 1927. It was then renamed the Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.1. During World War 2, five more factories were opened for a short time. These included a new factory in Footscray (SAAF No. 2). Two more were built in Hendon (SAAF No. 3 & No. 4). One was built in Rocklea (SAAF No. 5), and another in Welshpool (SAAF No. 6).
The SAAF No. 1 factory finally closed in 1945. The nearby SAAF No. 2 factory took its place. Today, this factory is often called Ammunition Factory Footscray (AFF).
