Truganina Explosives Magazine Complex (Former) and Trees

276 Queen Street ALTONA, Hobsons Bay City

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Truganina Explosives Magazine Complex (former) and trees, Hobsons Bay Heritage Study 2006

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Description 1

    Truganina Explosives Magazine Complex (Former) and Trees - Physical Description 1

    This complex includes two government designed Magazine Keepers' Quarters, a brick late Victorian-era (1897) house and an Edwardian-era (or later) weatherboard house. Landscape includes mature exotic trees including pepper trees, Monterey pines, yuccas, aloe or century plants on bunkers, many dead trees; and it is assumed also that some early native landscape survives. Surrounding the site is a corrugated iron fence with a serrated top and large early timber fence posts.

    Since the complex was constructed, the course of the Skeleton Creek has been altered to form a drain which has bisected the reserve and the Doug Grant reserve reclaimed from the Bay. The corrugated iron fence runs around the perimeter of the remaining part of the explosives reserve between Queen Street and the Truganina Swamp outlet (Truganina Creek). This reserve formerly extended south to the edge of the Skeleton Creek salt marshes, and contained many magazine buildings, some surrounded by earth blast protection mounts, connected by a series of 2 foot gauge tramway lines running parallel to Queen Street. At some stage, probably around World War II a total of 61 magazines were included. Five parallel lines ran along the side of the magazines, with a further line running south, and a connection to the jetty. Some of the lines south of Truganina Creek can still be recognised from their raised permanent ways between the salt marsh. The sites of magazines are also evident as cleared areas, some with concrete slabs.

    Within the surviving enclosure, there are several surviving blast mounds and at least one timber building, possibly a magazine. This is in the south east corner, and is about 4 metres square with corrugated iron roof. Remnants of a blast mound exist around it. Another complete blast mound, but without its building, is located about 50 metres west of this.

    Two substantial original gates survive in the fence, one on Queen Street, the other at the tramway exit on the south side. Here a concrete culvert built on a curve has extant rail tracks with the impression "WIW Australia, and a crown symbol, (Waratah Iron Works?) probably indicating Commonwealth construction). The tramline disappears under recent earthworks for a new pedestrian path.

    Summary of elements:

    - perimeter corrugated iron fence

    - blast mounds 3 or more

    - 2 keepers houses

    - magazine remnants

    - entrance gates

    - tramway remnants and embankments- such as that on the south side with bridge and gates, with 'WIW Australia' (or Waratah Iron Works) on tram rail;

    - mature specimen ornamental exotic trees, mature succulent clumps.

    Integrity

    Truganina Explosives Magazine Complex (Former) and Trees - Integrity

    External Condition

    Fair

    External Integrity

    Moderate

    Physical Description 2

    Truganina Explosives Magazine Complex (Former) and Trees - Physical Description 2

    Context

    Contributory part of Altona & Laverton Foreshore Precinct, on flat coastal strip, isolated by parklands and golf club.

    Historical Australian Themes

    Truganina Explosives Magazine Complex (Former) and Trees - Historical Australian Themes

    Utilising mineral resources, Quarrying

    Physical Description 3

    Truganina Explosives Magazine Complex (Former) and Trees - Physical Description 3

    Associations

    Victorian Colonial Government, Commonwealth Government

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study

    Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
    Year: 2006
    Grading:

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