Storage of Gunpowder Board 1875
Around the year 1875 there was considerable agitation amongst the residents of Sydney about the danger presented by the Goat Island Magazine. For example, on Thursday 4 March 1875, a deputation from the Sydney and suburban municipalities and the Sydney Chamber of Commerce met with the Colonial Secretary to urge the removal of the gunpowder magazine to some safer place than Goat Island. (Sydney Morning Herald, 5 March 1875). The outcome of this agitation was the appointment of a board to consider the issue.
From the Sydney Morning Herald of 27 October 1875:
"STORAGE OF GUNPOWDER
In May last the Government appointed Captain Mann, M. E. Moriarty, Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson, Captain Hixson, and M. Barnett, members of a Board to consider the desirability of the removal of the Goat Island Magazine. The Board reported on the 5th October, instant, and the following are their recommendations-
1. That the whole of the merchant's gunpowder and other explosives now stored at the Goat Island Magazine, be removed from that establishment, and that it be retained only for the limited quantity of gunpowder and ammunition required to be stored for the use of her Majesty's ships on this station.
2. That a separate and distinct magazine for merchants gunpowder, capable of storing about 300 tons, be established on the right bank of the Parramatta River, at the site designated by the tracing forwarded by letter from the Board on the 30th August last.
3. That a suitable hulk be provided and moored at a safe distance from the proposed magazine for the storage of all explosives other than gunpowder.
4. That efficiently constructed powder barges, and steam-launch for towing the same, be provided by the Government for removal of gunpowder and other explosives.
5. That the magazine at Fort Denison be used as an expense magazine in the event of vessels not being ready to receive the powder brought down by the barges for exportation.
6. That for the conveyance of gunpowder and other explosives by land, to and from magazine, and in the immediate vicinity of the city efficiently constructed vans only be used.
7. That the transit of gunpowder, and all other explosives be under the immediate control of the Government and that the service be conducted by experienced labour only, in conformity with Government regulations.
8. That all boats, barges, and vehicles carrying gunpowder or other explosives be obliged to exhibit a conspicuous danger signal.
9. That a guard at each of the established magazines be provided, and that to ensure efficiency three gunners and one non-commissioned officer of the Permanent Artillery Force be detailed periodically for this duty.
10. That fixed and definite boundaries be determined and proclaimed around all magazines.
11. That the law of the colony respecting the storage and transit of gunpowder and other explosives be revised, and that authority be given to the Government to fix and define the localities for the delivery of gunpowder. That trespassing within the proclaimed boundary of a magazine be made illegal. That dealers retaining the authorised quantity of 2 cwt. on their premises be required to take out an ordinary license, and that proprietors of country and local magazines, capable of storing larger quantities of gunpowder or other explosives, be required to take out special licenses, and that all licensed stores and magazines be liable for Government inspection.
12. That all explosives be duly labelled and declared, and no explosives (except small quantities for sportsmen) be carried in public vehicles.
13. That the whole of the underwood at Goat Island be cleared away, and that the general surface of the island be kept clear from undergrowth. That no buildings be erected in the vicinity of the magazine, and that the small building in particular to the eastward of it, be at once removed.
14. That the following alterations be made at Spectacle Island Magazine, viz. :- The buildings now occupied as quarters in the vicinity of that magazine to be converted into storage for ammunition, shifting, and making-up rooms &c. The shells and ammunition, now stored at the northern end, and close to the magazine, to be removed and stored in the vacated building.
15. That quarters be constructed on the vacant space, to the north-west of Spectacle Island, and that the magazine be not increased beyond a capacity of storage for 150 tons of gunpowder.
16. That in no instance should gunpowder and chemical explosives be conveyed in the same van, boat or barge.
17. That in no instance is gunpowder, or other explosives to be delivered from the magazine, or received by the railway for transit, until arrangements for its immediate removal on arrival at its destination are completed and provided by the consignee.
18. That regulations for the storage and transit of gunpowder and other explosives be in force in any city, town, or locality of the colony on proclamation to that effect being made by the Governor.
19. That the regulations for gunpowder magazines in charge of the Control Department, including rules for the reception, conveyance, storage, classification, and examination of gunpowder, ammunition, and other explosives, as contained in an Imperial work designated "Treatise on Ammunition," dated 1874, and issued under the authority of the Secretary of State for War, be in force so far as applicable to the somewhat necessarily altered conditions of the colonial service.
Gother K. Mann, Chairman
5th October, 1875"
The Sydney Mail of 30 October 1875 added some additional information.
Upon the receipt of this report the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, acting for the Colonial Treasurer, gave instructions for the immediate carrying into effect of the 13th recommendation. The island was at once cleared, and Mr. Robertson also directed the adoption of a number of other precautions, so as to lessen, as much as possible, the risk consequent upon the storage of so large a quantity of powder in close proximity to the city.
He further called the attention of tbe Board to the possible injury that might arise from the retention of the gunpowder at Goat Island during the time necessary to admit of the construction of the proposed new magazine; and asked if the Board could not suggest any immediate temporary means for providing for removal and storage of the gunpowder — say by placing it in hulks or otherwise.
On the 13th instant the chairman of the Board replied as follows: — I do myself the honour to inform you that the Board having had under their consideration your letter of the 8th instant, suggesting "immediate temporary means for providing for removal and storage of the gunpowder, say by placing it in hulks or otherwise," until the proposed new magazine is completed, are of opinion that their report of the 5th instant offers the most certain and readiest means of removing, as far as practicable, any cause of danger that may exist at the Goat Island magazine.
They therefore recommend its immediate adoption, as far as at present practicable, in preference to the transfer of the powder on board a hulk — a step that would necessarily be attended with some delay, considerable inconvenience to trade, and much danger. Should the Government, however, be desirous of placing the merchants' powder now stored at Goat Island in a hulk at a distance from the city, the Board consider that a properly fitted up vessel might probably be procured and moored at a site in the vicinity of the locality recommended for the new magazine, at a cost of from £2900 to £3000.
This arrangement would necessitate some special provision for transit and the erection of temporary buildings for quarters for the men in charge, as no fires or cooking could be permitted on board. With a view of removing the additional impediment to trade, it was suggested at the board that a quantity of merchants' gunpowder might still be retained at Goat Island, sufficient to meet the current demand. Had this powder been the property of one individual or firm, and also of one description, this suggestion would possibly have been feasible as a temporary measure, but the Board are of opinion that the danger from the frequent removal of small packages of gunpowder to and from the Magazine, would more than counterbalance any advantage arising out of this latter proposal. The statement set forth in the 12th paragraph of the report is fully borne out by all the documentary evidence.
(State Library NSW photo FL1714090)
In the event, the clearance of undergrowth at Goat Island was quickly put in hand but the Colonial Secretary seemed more interested in using hulks for storage in lieu of constructing a new magazine at Newington. Thus, although money was regularly included in estimates for the Newington project, it was not until 1897 that it finally went ahead, and as a magazine for military, rather than merchants' gunpowder. In the meantime, resort was made to powder hulks for the merchants' powder. However a new Explosives Act, with comprehensive modern regulations was enacted the following year.
The "site designated by the tracing" (recommendation no. 2) is approximately coincident with the site later resumed by the Government for the construction of the military magazine at Newington. It is on the right-bank of the Parramatta River as viewed facing down-stream.
Note: The Board's report is a valuable historical resource. It contains transcripts of witness interviews and much other material describing the operations of the public powder magazines of NSW in the mid-1870s. It appears not to have been published as a separate publication but can be found in the Votes and Proceedings of the NSW Legislative Assembly for 1875/76 (Volume 6, starting at page 993).
The Board's report is available to read or download.
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