RAN Armament Depot Newington in 1929
The Newington depot in 1929 occupied approximately 200 acres or less than ⅓ the area it ultimately occupied. Its facilities had been considerably increased since its acquisition by the RAN in 1921. Ammunition was brought ashore at the wharf which was 100 feet long with an average depth of water of 10 ½ feet HWOST (High water ordinary spring tides).
A one ton fixed hand crane was in use for unloading the lighters. 2 foot gauge steel tram lines were installed throughout except for the Group VI store (original gunpowder magazine, now building 20) where the rails were of wood covered with brass strips. Rolling stock comprised 4 cartridge trucks and 6 shell trucks. Fire fighting arrangements comprised 21 standpipes on freshwater mains, with canvas hose at each standpipe. There was no fixed lighting, but portable electric safety lamps were available. The group VI store was fitted to take candle lamps. Provision of electric light and power was imminent.
The depot was guarded by a Naval Police complement of 4 - one sergeant 2nd class and three constables. Police clocks were installed at various points and connected to an alarm at the sergeant's residence.
There were 5 residences and these were occupied by a foreman, storehouseman, sergeant and 2 constables.
and Warhead Examination Room in 1929
Storehouses comprised 3 magazines and 4 explosive storehouses. One magazine was used for Group I ammunition, one for Group II ammunition and one for Group IV ammunition. The explosives storehouses comprised a filled shell store, a boxed shell store, a group VI (primer fitted ammunition) store and a group VII (warhead store).
Ammunition maintenance facilities comprised a main laboratory, three shell examining rooms, a shell marking room, a shell scraping room, a warhead examining room, a shell indenting room and a shell extracting room.
Find out what Newington looked like in 1937: RAN Armament Depot Newington in 1937
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