Defence Explosive Factory Maribyrnong facts for kids

The Defence Explosive Factory Maribyrnong was a very important military site in Victoria, Australia. It was once a huge factory that made explosives and weapons for Australia's armed forces. This factory played a key role in Australia's defence, especially during the two World Wars. It is now a heritage-listed site, recognised for its historical importance. The factory complex is located near the Maribyrnong River. It includes areas that were once used for research and engineering development.

A Look Back: The Factory's Story

From Farms to Factories: Early Days

The land where the factory stands today was first sold in 1843. Early owners used it for farming and raising animals. Joseph Raleigh built a house and stables there. Later, in 1862, Hurtle Fisher bought the property. He turned it into a famous stud farm for racehorses.

The farm changed hands a few times, but it remained a successful horse stud. A man named George W. Petty made the "Maribyrnong Stud" well-known in Melbourne horse racing. New brick stables were built in 1888-89, and they are still standing today.

Later, part of the land became the Maribyrnong Racecourse. Horse races were held there until about 1900. It was even used for Victoria's first motor sports event in 1904!

Australia's Need for Defence

In 1878, a large gunpowder storage building called Jack's Magazine was built nearby. This started the area's journey to becoming a centre for making weapons. In 1889, a company built an ammunition factory next to Jack's Magazine. This location was great because raw materials and workers were close by. It was also safe from attacks from the sea.

Australia needed to make its own weapons. In the early 1900s, the government decided to build a factory to make cordite. Cordite was a new, powerful, and smokeless explosive. It was much better than old gunpowder.

Building the Cordite Factory

Melbourne was chosen for the cordite factory. It was the main base for Australia's defence forces. It also had the chemicals needed to make cordite. The specific spot chosen was the old Maribyrnong Racecourse and part of the horse stud farm. This was close to the existing ammunition factory and had many workers.

Construction of the factory began in 1909 and finished in 1912. It was designed by Arthur Edgar Leighton, who became a leader in Australia's weapons industry. The Maribyrnong Cordite Factory, along with another factory in Lithgow, meant Australia could now make its own weapons and ammunition. This made the country more independent for defence.

World War I and Growth

When World War I started, the demand for explosives exploded! Australia needed more cordite and other materials. But it was hard to import the chemicals needed. The factory managers, Arthur Leighton and Noel Brodribb, found a solution. They worked with Australian companies to start making these chemicals locally. This helped Australia's chemical industry grow a lot.

The factory also started making new types of explosives. In 1915, it began producing "initiating explosives" like fulminate of mercury. These were used in small amounts to start the firing of ammunition. By 1917, the factory made cordite for artillery shells, not just small arms. In 1918, it even started making its own acetone, a key ingredient for cordite. This meant Australia no longer relied on imports for this vital chemical.

Between the Wars: New Products and Leadership

After World War I, production slowed down. But the war showed Australia how important it was to be self-reliant in making weapons. So, in 1921, the government created the Munitions Supply Board. This board was in charge of building factories and labs for making weapons.

The Maribyrnong factory was updated to make parts for modern high-explosive shells, including TNT. It even sold TNT to the Victorian Government for underwater blasting! The factory also made many other chemical products for sale. This was allowed if no private company in Australia was making them. This policy helped boost Australia's chemical engineering industry. The factory made acids, paints, varnishes, and even products for aircraft. It was a leader in chemical engineering in Australia during this time.

World War II: Peak Production and Women Workers

In the 1930s, Australia started preparing for another war. The Maribyrnong factory's production doubled every year from 1936 to 1940. It began making special cordite for the Royal Australian Navy's big guns. This was a huge technical achievement. The factory also helped Australia start making its own ammonia, which was vital for explosives.

When World War II began, the demand for explosives was massive. The Maribyrnong factory became a training ground for staff for new factories built across Australia. It was the biggest and oldest explosives factory. It also led the way in researching and developing new weapons and ways to make them. It made and filled almost every type of ammunition.

By 1941, the factory developed new initiators and found a way to make nitrocellulose from Australian pine trees. This was a world first! In 1943, it even made "flashless cordite" for the Navy, another first for Australia. Many new buildings were added to handle the huge increase in production.

In 1942, the factory reached its peak, employing over 8,000 workers. A remarkable change during World War II was the large number of women working there. Before the war, only men worked at the factory. But to meet the wartime demand, women were hired in large numbers. In 1942, women made up 52% of the production workforce! However, after the war, the factory went back to having only male workers.

Safety and Protection

Safety was a huge concern at the factory. Many buildings had strong earth or concrete walls around them. These "blast walls" were built to contain any accidental explosions. Special roads called "cleanways" were used for transport. These roads reduced friction and prevented static electricity, making it safer to move materials.

The factory was also a target for enemy air attacks during the war. So, many Air Raid Protection (ARP) shelters were built. These included concrete bunkers and individual shelters.

After the War and Closure

After World War II, the factory continued to make explosives for the armed forces, but on a much smaller scale. It also helped safely dispose of unused wartime ammunition. It even returned to making some non-military products. The factory played an important role in employing immigrants who arrived after the war.

In the 1960s, the factory's role changed. It started designing and making plastic explosives and rocket propellants. But by the 1980s, it became clear that the site was no longer safe for making modern high explosives. The factory's operations were moved to other places, and it finally closed in May 1994.

What the Factory Looks Like Today

A Unique Layout

Making explosives needed a special, isolated place. Different parts of the production process had to be kept separate for safety. The Maribyrnong River's wide flood plain was perfect for this. The factory's layout shows how different functions were separated by open spaces. This helped keep everyone safe. At its busiest, the factory had over 500 buildings!

Building Styles

Most of the factory buildings are single-storey industrial buildings. They often have red bricks, timber walls, and corrugated iron roofs. They have large roofs and are designed as separate "cells" for safety. Many buildings have dividing walls that stick out through the roof. Explosives storage areas and magazines have large earth mounds around them. These are called "blast mounds" and are for safety.

You can still see signs of safety measures from World War II. There are remains of ARP shelters built to protect workers from air raids.

Transport and Services

Moving materials safely around the site was very important. At first, small hand-pushed railways were used. Later, special concrete roads called "cleanways" were built. You can still see parts of the old rail system and the cleanways today. There were also major service systems, like steam pipes, that ran throughout the site.

Different Areas of the Factory

The factory was divided into several key areas:

• Administration Section: This area had the main offices and laboratories.
• Propellant Section: This was the factory's main focus, where cordite was made. It included buildings for making nitroglycerine, acids, and gun cotton.
• Detonator Section: This area was kept far away from other explosive areas. It made the small "priming caps" that start explosions in shells.
• High Explosives Filling Section: Here, buildings were used for filling mines, depth charges, and artillery shells with explosives.
• Cordite, Administration and Workshop Buildings: This area included buildings for making naval cordite, along with offices and workshops. The old Fisher Stables are also in this area.

Condition and Importance Today

Old Trees and Remaining Buildings

Some very old White Cypress-pine trees grow on the site. These trees are between 130 and 220 years old! They are a rare type of tree in Victoria and were there before European settlement.

Some buildings have been removed as part of a clean-up process. But many of the original buildings from the factory's early days are still standing. These include the first offices and laboratories from 1910. Many other important structures that show how explosives were made are also still there.

Buildings from World War I, the 1930s, and World War II also remain. These include propellant stores, filling houses, and various workshops.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Maribyrnong Explosives Factory is very important for several reasons:

• It was the first factory in Australia specifically designed to make cordite. All later explosives factories in Australia were based on its design.
• It was the first Commonwealth government munitions factory, built in 1910. This was a big step for Australia's independence in defence.
• It played a huge role in both World War I and World War II, supplying much of the explosives used by Australian forces.
• During World War II, it was a parent factory. It trained staff for other factories and led the way in developing new weapons. Australia's manufacturing skills became so good that it even exported equipment to countries like Britain!
• The factory was a leader in Australia's chemical engineering industry between the wars.
• It reminds us of the war years, especially World War I, when many workers came to the area. It also shows how women played a vital role in the workforce during World War II.
• The site also has a connection to the history of horse racing in Victoria. The main road through the factory follows the path of the old Maribyrnong Racecourse. The old Fisher Stables are also still there.
• The factory's design shows how explosives factories were built for safety. It has separate areas, blast mounds, and special transport systems.
• The site is home to rare White Cypress-pine trees, which are a valuable natural feature.