Physical Description
Specialised industrial integrated complex designed for safe handling and cool storage of explosives. Main complex has magazines of different size and light variation in design detail but all with landing platform to tramway in excavated rock, double brick walls, parquet flooring (except fourteen and sixteen) and roofs to lift off under impact of explosion and with in built cooling systems watered from concrete dam. Some wharves covered to minimise heat exposure. Shed has a door to Harbour and a pontoon. |
History
The Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine Complex was established in 1908 following advice from the
"Report of the Committee of Inquiry" that explosives stored in Powder Magazines and Hulks in Middle
Harbour should be moved to a location less susceptible to explosions (Latona Masterman &
Associates, 1982). A total of 701 acres and 2 roads were allocated to for the storage facility. Work
commenced in 1910 and in 1915 the new magazines at Bantry Bay were declared "Public Magazines"
(Latona Masterman & Associates, 1982). Figure illustrates the location of the Magazine Complex.
The Bantry Bay Complex was extremely well designed, with tram tracks linking the recessed nine (9)
magazines to the Major Receiving Magazine and jettys on the waterfront (Latona Masterman &
Associates, 1982). During its time of operation, the complex was a highly specialised and industrious
port facility, utilising a variety of boats and specialist hand trolleys to transport goods between the
boats and the magazines (Latona Masterman & Associates, 1982).
The event of new technologies and resident pressure eventuated the official announcement of the
closure of the Bantry Bay facility in June 1972. The Complex was closed in May 1974 and
incorporated into the Davidson Park State Recreation Area. In 1992 Davison State Recreation Area
was subsequently incorporated into Garigal National Park. Since operations have ceased at Bantry
Bay, the care and maintenance of the buildings has been a major problem (Latona Masterman &
Associates, 1982).
Shortly after being included in Garigal National Park, a major stabilisation program was undertaken on
the western seawall, but there were insufficient funds to complete the work (NPWS, 1998). Most of
the buildings are in relatively sound condition, but have been subject to vandalism, and most the
fittings have been removed (NPWS 1998).
From: Bantry Bay Conservation Managment Plan Draft - Graham Brooks & Associates, Taylor Brammer landscape Architects, Mary Dallas Consulting Archaeologists.
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