Enthralling visit to Jack’s MagazineRCKE members had a Sunday’s introduction to Melbourne’s long-disused 12ha bluestone explosives depot on the banks of the Maribyrnong River. Our party was John and Barbara Rafter, Joe Albioli and his son Ryan, Tony Thomas and Robert Chessell.
The name "Jack's Magazine" honours "Wally" Jack, foreman from around 1917 to 1943—overseeing operations through Victoria’s gritty history.
Our guide Andy Calvert was a veteran of the former army factory next door. He told us endless stories of its explosives history starting with the gold mining industry in 1878. All Victoria’s explosives were imported for many decades, barged along waterways and canals to the complex, stored there and sold retail and in bulk. “In those days anyone could buy explosives, no-one asked why,” Andy says, leading us through trolley tramlines, underground tunnels, admin huts and massive earth blast mounds.
Surrounding it all is a formidable 6m bluestone wall, making the site seem a fortified secret. By the early 20th century, it was part of the "Arsenal of Australia," providing powder for the Footscray Ammunition Factory (now Edgewater housing). It languished unused from the 1990s, attacked by vandals until restored for tour groups.
Andy explained that the loaded trolleys were pushed by workers – horses were banned because of sparks from hoofs and the risk of a horse bolting and towing a trolley-full of gunpowder. "It was all muscle and caution; one wrong move, and you'd blow things sky-high,” Andy said. “All the bullets for the ANZACs, including at Gallipoli, came from the two complexes, with the magazine’s workers on 12 hour shifts under lanterns.” #