I worked at most of these sites in the 80s and 90s, including in the clean up at Gordon Street and Wests Road. Most of this video addresses Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong (OFM), not Explosives Factory Maribyrnong (EFM). Whilst they shared some services, they were completely independent facilities. Metal bashing and explosives work were NEVER mixed until the final assembly of a munition; all to do with safety and mind-set. When we decontaminated the OFM site it was all about extracting the metal (lots of buried swarf etc.) and metal treatment chemicals, as well as the slag from the boiler house. The Gordon Street Facility was Ammunition Factory Footscray (AFF or SAAF - Small Arms Ammunition). It was affectionately referred to by workers as "the Ammos".
Enjoyed both parts, grew up and still live in the area so it's interesting to see how it looks in the past. I was hoping you would mention Jack's Magazine building near Pipemakers park and how it all linked together but as you said there are many stories that could be told.
Jack's Magazine (named after a long-serving superintendent, Wally Jack) was established by the Victorian Colonial Government prior to all of the munitions-related factories being established in the area. It was mainly for mining-related explosives and was established there to enable barging of explosives from Hobson's Bay up the Maribyrnong. It was later subsumed into the Small Arms Ammunition Factory Footscray and had various factory-related uses, including as a staging area for shipments outward via river and bay. The clearly visible canal to the river ceased being used decades ago. FYI we found .303 cartridges in the river mud head-stamped 1917 in the early 90s!
I lived at the Student Village in the late 90s. The last Nissen hut was christened "The Hanger" and was fitted with a bar and used for student parties.
Ah that's interesting, thanks for the information. Is it still decked out in its original interior or has it been renovated? There's a photo of the hut when it was used as a migrant hostel here www.lovellchen.com.au/lc/midway-phillip-migrant-hostels-cmp/
I was lucky enough to have toured through part of it when I was serving my apprenticeship in fitting and turning. The area i recall was where they where making the brass shell casings.
Thank you for making this video Philip. My Grandfather worked in the factory as a young man and I have often wondered about it. He used to make mercury switches, among other things.. it's nice to have an insight into where he was working.
Thanks for covering this Philip. I live in one of the old Maribyrnong ordnance factory buildings (you even have my car in one of your photos) and am fascinated by the history of the site. I also love the West's Rd air raid siren, and I believe it's included as part of the RAFA-era building heritage listing. I am eager to see what eventually comes of the explosive factory site, but I hope they bother to explicitly address the history of the site once it's redeveloped. There are hints of it here at the old Ordnance Factory, but you have to know what you're looking at - maybe we need to lobby for some heritage markers and signs while there are still people around who remember the working site!
Also, the EFM site experienced every explosive chemical process know over 80 years, in an era when waste management was barely given a thought. It is heavily contaminated and all the government authorities are waiting for the commercial value of the land to exceed or near-meet the clean-up cost. Again, it is yet another story of Defence saying they will take responsibility for their dirty-work, and then doing all they can to avoid doing so to protect their budget. Just look at the PFAS debacles around the country.
PFAS was the wonder foam to replace protein foam. Afff was used to fight fires and do washaways after vehicle accidents, so it is everywhere. I have been told as a surfactant it was used in shampoo's and conditioners although as it's not ingested it probably is no harm.
Well done Philip Mallis. My family moved into the area in 1988 and I ended up working for the local Federal MP for Maribyrnong at the time, Bob Sercombe. I know lots RE the site, particularily about just how contaminated it is. NO developer will ever buy it as the cost to clean it up is endless and cant even be estimated with any degree of certainty! One part of the sites history you never mentioned was the story of "Sandy" the only Australian horse that went to war in WW1 and that was ever allowed to return to Australia at the end of the Great War, WW1 because she was the personal mount of the Army General commanding the Australian Lighthorse units. Sandy is buried at the site.
The other part was EDE engineering design establishment in which it was all Army research and my dad worked in the electronics section, as shown on your last scene of the video thanks
Brilliant, great vid Philip! I grew up in Maribyrnong in the 70's, went to Footscray Tech and eventually worked at the Ammunition Factory in Footscray, so I know both the 82 and 57 lines well!
Appreciate the videos Philip thanks. I never new much about this site, but became a bit familiar when the company I worked for toyed with the idea of buying it to undertake remediation activities and then on sell - which never went ahead. I then had the opportunity to do environmental work at some other ADF sites in Melbourne and found them interesting places to explore. In particular RAAF Base Williams Laverton. A huge site which has now been largely sold off. It makes you appreciate how much defense infrastructure was located throughout suburban Melbourne. It is a shame to see so much of it disused and abandoned. Another reminder of so much lost industry - though not being a fan of warfare appreciate that these sites are no longer necessary. It does make one wonder what would happen in the event of another significant global conflict and how we as a populace would be positioned to mobilise these sorts of facilities again. But more than likely we'll see these continue to transition to urban infill
Nobody seems to remember that there's a scion of the Lone Pine (yes, THAT Lone Pine) on the site, at the east end. I sometimes wonder what happened to it, left to the tender mercies of the developers. And the only horse who came back to Australia after WWI is buried over the back; I suppose he'll just be cemented over.
You're right, it's still there! I ran into it while walking around filming for this video. You can see part of it very briefly at 4:35 in Part 1: ua-cam.com/video/pi4dXfNEM6E/v-deo.html
@@philipmallis Hi Phillip - it appears you missed a remnant of the EFM site's earlier history as a racehorse stud. Named after the stud's original owner Hurtle Fisher, Fisher's Stables from I think the 1860's are even visible on Google Street View if you point the viewer west from 12 City View Drive. The stables peek over the brow of the hill in the distance - you will get an even better view if you actually go there...Apparently the area in front of the stables was used as the mustering yard for horses in the Australian Light Horse being sent to the Middle East in WWI,
I worked at the Explosives Factory Maribyrnong from about 1970 to 1990 . Quite a number of ex employees would still be alive that could explain more about the site . The Army Research and Design buildings are along the tram line on the right hand side and were not part of EFM. Also the complex of buildings on the right hand side past the tram terminus was DSL , Design & Science Laboratories , also not part of EFM. It is a disgrace that this multi million $ site is left unutilised . A feasibility study was done on the rehabilitation of the site and it ran into the millions of dollars , but it should be done while there are people living who have some knowledge of the site . It is prime realestate and would give millions back to the Australian community .
Nice knowing the history and passing it on ,I lived in Cheltenham as a kid we use play at the old gas works factory it was huge factory with high up foot bridges connecting towers, also in Moorabbin VIC Independence St, is where they use to have a WW2 antenna controlled by American soldiers and would broadcast radio and propaganda on the airwaves ,A little bit of history :)
When our school burnt down a lot of the kids had their classes in one of the West Street govt buildings. I remember as a toddler being in the car with mum taking my brother to class there. I also have fond memories of primary school and the wonderful contribution that the mid way migrant hostel gave to the melting pot of nations : the wonderful different accents and cultures.
I lived in a small estate there (I won't say where out of respect for current residents) during my Uni years and used to love doing missions around there! I wonder if the soil ever got fixed up, nothing would EVER grow in my backyard and through a little sticky beaking discovered the issues with contaminated soil there from the old factory days.
Highpoint Shopping Centre is built in a disused quarry. I have seen the buildup around the factory over the last 35 years. Shame such facilities, with today's safety standards are not used to make our own ammo rather than buying from a country already at war. There are some explosive factories around the Deer Park area also that may merit a video. One of them is easily visible from the Ring Road heading toward the Hume Highway around the Deer Park area. ICI used to make explosives there also. Millers Road in Altona until a few years ago was a concrete road built by the Yanks in ww2. Last time I was on that road that concrete had been bitumized.
my grand father worked at the explosives factory during the explosion in 1950 he said it blew him into a trench he was digging and his ears rang for 3 days after the fact, claims he saw a whole building lift up into the air... ill get him to retell the story when i see him next.
I did my fitting and turning apprenticeship at the Ordnance Factory in Wests Road in 1984 and 1985. It was named the Apprentice Training Centre and it was huge taking me 10 minutes to walk from the main entrance to the training section and it was one of the best training facilities in all of Melbourne. Miss those times.
Do you know about the blackpowder mill at Cairnlea? It was part of the Deer Park explosives site. The small building is restored and has heritage listing. Worth a visit.
I have only just found your videos, they are extraordinarily brilliant, keep up the good work. My wife worked at the Ammunition Factory (medical centre) in Footscray during the early 1990's until it closed.
Thanks for this great video. My partner And I explored all around here a couple of years back and we are curious to the specific use of the various buildings you’ve done much to answer our questions
My grandfather worked here and told us stories of the lead lined room where workers would shake the bullets into their casings. He said one day one went off and they basically had to scrape what was left of the poor fella off the walls. Thanks so much for these videos they are so informative
The amount of Mercury and lead in this munitions complex must be upto the neck and the taxpayers would not like to foot the enormous bill (in Billions) for the clean up and the native land owners would not take the polluted soil in any of their sacred land. This military industrial complex should be a feather in the cap of australia's contribution to two great wars but unfortunately there was a joke in the battle field that if the ammunition came from Footscray it would not kill the enemy.
Work has really picked up on the earmarked site now, didn't know it was being redeveloped for trams! All systems go when I went past a few days ago, will be interesting to see what it looks like. You'll have to do an updated part 3!
I worked at most of these sites in the 80s and 90s, including in the clean up at Gordon Street and Wests Road. Most of this video addresses Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong (OFM), not Explosives Factory Maribyrnong (EFM). Whilst they shared some services, they were completely independent facilities. Metal bashing and explosives work were NEVER mixed until the final assembly of a munition; all to do with safety and mind-set. When we decontaminated the OFM site it was all about extracting the metal (lots of buried swarf etc.) and metal treatment chemicals, as well as the slag from the boiler house. The Gordon Street Facility was Ammunition Factory Footscray (AFF or SAAF - Small Arms Ammunition). It was affectionately referred to by workers as "the Ammos".
My father worked in the OFM during the late 70's and early 80's and had stories of the on goings in there till he passed away a few years back.
Enjoyed both parts, grew up and still live in the area so it's interesting to see how it looks in the past. I was hoping you would mention Jack's Magazine building near Pipemakers park and how it all linked together but as you said there are many stories that could be told.
Thank you! Yes there was a lot more around here that I didn't mention. Maybe one day I'll come back and cover some more ground
Deerpark ici explosives factory on Ballarat rd
Jack's Magazine (named after a long-serving superintendent, Wally Jack) was established by the Victorian Colonial Government prior to all of the munitions-related factories being established in the area. It was mainly for mining-related explosives and was established there to enable barging of explosives from Hobson's Bay up the Maribyrnong. It was later subsumed into the Small Arms Ammunition Factory Footscray and had various factory-related uses, including as a staging area for shipments outward via river and bay. The clearly visible canal to the river ceased being used decades ago. FYI we found .303 cartridges in the river mud head-stamped 1917 in the early 90s!
I lived at the Student Village in the late 90s. The last Nissen hut was christened "The Hanger" and was fitted with a bar and used for student parties.
Ah that's interesting, thanks for the information. Is it still decked out in its original interior or has it been renovated? There's a photo of the hut when it was used as a migrant hostel here www.lovellchen.com.au/lc/midway-phillip-migrant-hostels-cmp/
I was lucky enough to have toured through part of it when I was serving my apprenticeship in fitting and turning. The area i recall was where they where making the brass shell casings.
Thank you for making this video Philip. My Grandfather worked in the factory as a young man and I have often wondered about it. He used to make mercury switches, among other things.. it's nice to have an insight into where he was working.
You're very welcome, and thanks for sharing!
Just along from the Angler’s Hotel is Maribyrnong Reserve which was originally a speedway.
Cool video on the site, I work at it's replacement sites in Vic and worked at the new sites aswel.
Thanks for covering this Philip. I live in one of the old Maribyrnong ordnance factory buildings (you even have my car in one of your photos) and am fascinated by the history of the site. I also love the West's Rd air raid siren, and I believe it's included as part of the RAFA-era building heritage listing. I am eager to see what eventually comes of the explosive factory site, but I hope they bother to explicitly address the history of the site once it's redeveloped. There are hints of it here at the old Ordnance Factory, but you have to know what you're looking at - maybe we need to lobby for some heritage markers and signs while there are still people around who remember the working site!
Also, the EFM site experienced every explosive chemical process know over 80 years, in an era when waste management was barely given a thought. It is heavily contaminated and all the government authorities are waiting for the commercial value of the land to exceed or near-meet the clean-up cost. Again, it is yet another story of Defence saying they will take responsibility for their dirty-work, and then doing all they can to avoid doing so to protect their budget. Just look at the PFAS debacles around the country.
PFAS was the wonder foam to replace protein foam. Afff was used to fight fires and do washaways after vehicle accidents, so it is everywhere. I have been told as a surfactant it was used in shampoo's and conditioners although as it's not ingested it probably is no harm.
I've lived in the area for many years so it's great to finally get the full story! :)
This two part doco' series should be broadcast on ABC nationwide television 📺 .
ABC is only interested in broadcasting government propaganda. This series will never be on ABC's radar.
Thank you for putting this together! There’s another park nearby that has some interpretive signage dedicated to the areas war time use.
Well done Philip Mallis. My family moved into the area in 1988 and I ended up working for the local Federal MP for Maribyrnong at the time, Bob Sercombe. I know lots RE the site, particularily about just how contaminated it is. NO developer will ever buy it as the cost to clean it up is endless and cant even be estimated with any degree of certainty! One part of the sites history you never mentioned was the story of "Sandy" the only Australian horse that went to war in WW1 and that was ever allowed to return to Australia at the end of the Great War, WW1 because she was the personal mount of the Army General commanding the Australian Lighthorse units. Sandy is buried at the site.
Ah yes I did see the memorial to Sandy and other horses that were in the area. Thanks for sharing the memories!
The Explosives Factory was only half the site, you should also talk about the Materials Research Labs that occupied that other part of the site....
The other part was EDE engineering design establishment in which it was all Army research and my dad worked in the electronics section, as shown on your last scene of the video thanks
Brilliant, great vid Philip! I grew up in Maribyrnong in the 70's, went to Footscray Tech and eventually worked at the Ammunition Factory in Footscray, so I know both the 82 and 57 lines well!
You will get a great view of the bunkers from the hill at the back of Afton St
Appreciate the videos Philip thanks. I never new much about this site, but became a bit familiar when the company I worked for toyed with the idea of buying it to undertake remediation activities and then on sell - which never went ahead. I then had the opportunity to do environmental work at some other ADF sites in Melbourne and found them interesting places to explore. In particular RAAF Base Williams Laverton. A huge site which has now been largely sold off. It makes you appreciate how much defense infrastructure was located throughout suburban Melbourne. It is a shame to see so much of it disused and abandoned. Another reminder of so much lost industry - though not being a fan of warfare appreciate that these sites are no longer necessary. It does make one wonder what would happen in the event of another significant global conflict and how we as a populace would be positioned to mobilise these sorts of facilities again. But more than likely we'll see these continue to transition to urban infill
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for that info
awesome video as always phillip
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed them
i've always wanted to go beyond that forbidden fence lol.
Some have and have been caught , there's various video's on UA-cam ...
I have an old photograph taken in the 1940's by my mother of a nasty big black mushroom cloud emanating from this place.
What was the mushroom cloud from?
Absolutely fascinating doco…Thank you for your informative content.😊
Nobody seems to remember that there's a scion of the Lone Pine (yes, THAT Lone Pine) on the site, at the east end. I sometimes wonder what happened to it, left to the tender mercies of the developers. And the only horse who came back to Australia after WWI is buried over the back; I suppose he'll just be cemented over.
You're right, it's still there! I ran into it while walking around filming for this video. You can see part of it very briefly at 4:35 in Part 1: ua-cam.com/video/pi4dXfNEM6E/v-deo.html
@@philipmallis Hi Phillip - it appears you missed a remnant of the EFM site's earlier history as a racehorse stud. Named after the stud's original owner Hurtle Fisher, Fisher's Stables from I think the 1860's are even visible on Google Street View if you point the viewer west from 12 City View Drive. The stables peek over the brow of the hill in the distance - you will get an even better view if you actually go there...Apparently the area in front of the stables was used as the mustering yard for horses in the Australian Light Horse being sent to the Middle East in WWI,
I worked at the Explosives Factory Maribyrnong from about 1970 to 1990 . Quite a number of ex employees would still be alive that could explain more about the site . The Army Research and Design buildings are along the tram line on the right hand side and were not part of EFM. Also the complex of buildings on the right hand side past the tram terminus was DSL , Design & Science Laboratories , also not part of EFM. It is a disgrace that this multi million $ site is left unutilised . A feasibility study was done on the rehabilitation of the site and it ran into the millions of dollars , but it should be done while there are people living who have some knowledge of the site . It is prime realestate and would give millions back to the Australian community .
Nice knowing the history and passing it on ,I lived in Cheltenham as a kid we use play at the old gas works factory it was huge factory with high up foot bridges connecting towers, also in Moorabbin VIC Independence St, is where they use to have a WW2 antenna controlled by American soldiers and would broadcast radio and propaganda on the airwaves ,A little bit of history :)
That's great, thanks for sharing that information!
When our school burnt down a lot of the kids had their classes in one of the West Street govt buildings. I remember as a toddler being in the car with mum taking my brother to class there.
I also have fond memories of primary school and the wonderful contribution that the mid way migrant hostel gave to the melting pot of nations : the wonderful different accents and cultures.
I lived in a small estate there (I won't say where out of respect for current residents) during my Uni years and used to love doing missions around there! I wonder if the soil ever got fixed up, nothing would EVER grow in my backyard and through a little sticky beaking discovered the issues with contaminated soil there from the old factory days.
Highpoint Shopping Centre is built in a disused quarry. I have seen the buildup around the factory over the last 35 years. Shame such facilities, with today's safety standards are not used to make our own ammo rather than buying from a country already at war. There are some explosive factories around the Deer Park area also that may merit a video. One of them is easily visible from the Ring Road heading toward the Hume Highway around the Deer Park area. ICI used to make explosives there also. Millers Road in Altona until a few years ago was a concrete road built by the Yanks in ww2. Last time I was on that road that concrete had been bitumized.
my grand father worked at the explosives factory during the explosion in 1950 he said it blew him into a trench he was digging and his ears rang for 3 days after the fact, claims he saw a whole building lift up into the air... ill get him to retell the story when i see him next.
I think their was an air raid siren on top of the old Camberwell Police Station
Excellent series. Thankyou.
You're very welcome!
Another informative video , keep up the awesome work . These videos are appreciated :D
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
That substation is amazing. Quirky bit of camouflage!
I’ve been out and explored this place a few times it’s amazing in there,so many buildings to explore and plenty to see
Good work Philip with 1 L
I did my fitting and turning apprenticeship at the Ordnance Factory in Wests Road in 1984 and 1985. It was named the Apprentice Training Centre and it was huge taking me 10 minutes to walk from the main entrance to the training section and it was one of the best training facilities in all of Melbourne. Miss those times.
There is still the Mulwala Explosives Factory in operation built in 1942 which produces gun powder.
Fascinating
Do you know about the blackpowder mill at Cairnlea? It was part of the Deer Park explosives site. The small building is restored and has heritage listing. Worth a visit.
Thank you, good suggestion! There's a lot of history in that area, will definitely need to pay it a visit
I love your videos Philip, keep up the great work! :^)
Thank you!
Great videos Philip, I worked there as an apprentice during 1969 before returning to the UK. Great memories!!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I have only just found your videos, they are extraordinarily brilliant, keep up the good work.
My wife worked at the Ammunition Factory (medical centre) in Footscray during the early 1990's until it closed.
Great videos my Grandparents lived in a residence at the site as my Grandfather worked there .I remember going there as a kid.
Don't forget the Termites. Did some work at DSTO in the 2000's There were some buildings that were unsafe to enter, including one near new one
Thanks for this great video. My partner And I explored all around here a couple of years back and we are curious to the specific use of the various buildings you’ve done much to answer our questions
My grandfather worked here and told us stories of the lead lined room where workers would shake the bullets into their casings. He said one day one went off and they basically had to scrape what was left of the poor fella off the walls. Thanks so much for these videos they are so informative
I worked there in the 80s. At the time it was called the Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong
That was cool!
marvellous work!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
The amount of Mercury and lead in this munitions complex must be upto the neck and the taxpayers would not like to foot the enormous bill (in Billions) for the clean up and the native land owners would not take the polluted soil in any of their sacred land. This military industrial complex should be a feather in the cap of australia's contribution to two great wars but unfortunately there was a joke in the battle field that if the ammunition came from Footscray it would not kill the enemy.
They managed to clean up the Albion (Deer Park) explosives factory site mostly housing there now.
The toxic dirt can be saved for making dirty bombs in ww3.
5:54. What about Williamstown migrant Hostel. That site still has some original Nissen huts?
Another great suggestion! I had no idea that there were still some buildings left there. Will definitely check it out
Thank you Philip, great video! Where is that substation? Sloane St?
Never mind I found it, it is behind Bedshed!
@@anthcolangelo Thanks! And yep that's the one. You can also see it through the office carpark on the north-east side
Great job Phillip.
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
How did this area fare in the recent floods ?
Not very well unfortunately www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-20/maribyrnong-flood-ruins-homes-melbourne-clean-up-begins/101555226
The site is higher up than near the Anglers, so wouldn’t have been flooded at all.
Work has really picked up on the earmarked site now, didn't know it was being redeveloped for trams! All systems go when I went past a few days ago, will be interesting to see what it looks like. You'll have to do an updated part 3!