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The Newington Military Magazine in 1901

Introduction

In 1901 the new Commonwealth Government set up a committee, the Military Committee of Inquiry, to procure information with regard to the organisation and instruction of the existing Military Forces and the arrangements for the inspection of warlike stores, military supplies and contracts. The officers on the Committee representing the Artillery and Engineers were also directed to make a joint technical inspection of the whole of the armament, magazines, mines, searchlights, forts and warlike stores generally.

The representative of the Artillery was Major W. T. Bridges, RAA and of the Engineers, Major Percy Thomas Owen. Owen is likely to have been the senior officer of the Engineering Staff of the NSW Military Forces who designed the Newington Magazine.

The Committee reported in 1902 ⁽¹⁾. Part III of the report dealt with the inspection of the armament and works of the Commonwealth. It is generally unflattering as to the state of the guns, fortifications and battery works inherited from the various states. This is what it said about the ammunition stocks:

Ammunition

Section II of the report refers to the management arrangements for the Newington Magazine:

"The Magazine at Newington, near Sydney, in which is stored the reserve powder and cordite, is in charge of the Adjutant, Garrison Artillery." (Section II, p.8)

In the introduction to section IV adverse comments were made about the suitability of some of the ammunition stocks:

“87. Attention is directed to the large quantity of ammunition shown in Table V, much of which is in excess of probable requirements, and some cannot be used in any gun in the State.

At Newington there is nearly 50,000 lb. of P² [gunpowder], and in the State there must be altogether between 30 and 40 tons; although in good condition, it is of no use for military or civil purposes. There are also some 60 tons of R.L.G. (Section IV, p.17)”

In reference to the Submarine Miners, it was noted that:

"171. There is a reserve of 1,000lb. of wet gun-cotton, in 2 1/2 lb. slabs, on charge for Submarine Mining. There is a further reserve of 70,000 lb. of wet gun-cotton in 9 oz. discs on Ordnance Store charge at Goat Island. This gun-cotton is stored in unlined boxes. In January, 1901, the Inspecting Officer reported that some of the boxes were beginning to rot, owing to repeated annual wetting. Endeavour has been made to find a market for, or dispose of this explosive. ... Wet gun-cotton in 9 oz. discs is not suitable for loading mines. ..." (Section IV, p.29)

Newington Magazine

These are the comments made about the Newington Magazine, which was described as being for reserve stocks of ammunition, the ready-use stocks being stored in magazines at the various batteries and, in the case of the Submarine Miners, in magazines at their headquarters at Chowder Bay:

200. The Reserve Magazines are situated on Military ground fronting the Parramatta River at Newington, distant 10 1/4 miles by water from Circular Quay. There is a road from the Magazines to Rookwood Railway Station, 10 miles from Sydney.⁽²⁾

The Magazines have been recently built, and comprise (within the Magazine enclosure fence) - Magazines for Group I class I of explosives, lamp room, dry guncotton store, laboratory, examining room, barrel store, cooperage, guard room, latrines. All the buildings are constructed of brick with slate roofs.

The Magazine is sunk in the hillside and traversed. It has three chambers, fitted with racks for barrels, &c., overhead traveller, and truckway. Its ventilation is regulated from outside. There is one shifting lobby and barrier.

There is a timber pier on Military charge fronting the river. It is provided with receiving room and travelling crane. A truckway is carried from the pier past the empty barrel store and cooperage, examining room, and laboratory, to the Magazine. There is a branch truck-way to the dry gun-cotton store.

All buildings are in good repair.

The lightning-conductors of the Magazine and dry gun-cotton store were in a satisfactory condition when last tested.

Quarters for N.C.O in charge and Magazine hands are situated outside the Magazine enclosure fence. They are constructed of brick; slate roofs. ...

201. The whole of the gunpowder is fit for Class I, except the following, which is placed in Class III: - R.L.G., 1 barrel; L.G., 11 pentagon cases; R.F.G. and T.F.G. (mixed), 1 barrel; R.F.G., 3 barrels.

The filled cartridges are in good order, with the following exceptions: - B.L., silk cloth, 6-inch, 34 lb. P. (513), cartridges in bad condition; R.M.L 9-pdr., 1 lb. R.L.G. (6), cartridges unserviceable.

The cordite was tested, and found to be serviceable. (Section IV, p.33)

Supported Batteries and Fortifications

The report identifies the batteries and fortifications for which the Newington Magazine held reserve stocks. In Newcastle these were Fort Scratchley and the Shepherd's Hill battery. In Port Jackson they were Inner Middle Head battery, Outer Middle Head battery, Obelisk Bay battery, Georges Head battery, Rock Casemate battery, Armoured Casemate battery, Georges Heights battery, Dawes (saluting) battery, South Head Section battery, Green Point battery, Minefield battery, Outer South Head battery and Signal Hill fort. Coastline batteries were at Ben Buckler (Bondi), Shark Point (Coogee), Bare Island fort and Henry Head battery. In Wollongong were Signal Hill fort, and Smith's Hill fort. Field artillery units were part-timer units and did not hold ammunition stocks and were supplied from Newington on each occasion firing was practised.

Batteries did not hold large ready use stocks. For example, the Outer South Head battery mounted two 6-inch BL on HP mountings, three 6-inch QFC, one 10-inch RML, four 80-pounder RML and one 9.2-inch BL on HP mountings. Of these, the RML (Rifled muzzle loaders) guns were obsolete. For the two 6-inch BL on HP mountings there were 50 cordite charges and 86 powder charges. At Signal Hill fort in Wollongong there was one one 6-inch BL on an HP mounting, and 94 rounds of ammunition although some had unserviceable T. and P. Fuzes.

Notes:

1. The Committee's report (Title: Report of the Military Committee of Inquiry. 1901) can be read online or downloaded as a large PDF file at the National Archives of Australia. (Citation: NAA: A5954, 2375/2.)

2. For more information about this road see:The Roads of Newington