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Explosives Factory Maribyrnong

EFM · Cordite Factory, Maribyrnong · Commonwealth Cordite Factory · Maribyrnong Explosives Factory · Defence Explosive Factory Maribyrnong

1910 – May 1989

Government explosives factory at Maribyrnong, near Melbourne, that made cordite and other propellants and explosives for the Australian forces; it was the Commonwealth's first explosives factory and its main source of cordite until the Second World War.

How it came into existence

Built by the Department of Defence at Maribyrnong between 1909 and 1912 under the Commonwealth policy of manufacturing its own munitions, and in operation from about 1910 as the cordite factory. It was a new undertaking rather than a transfer from another body; the date it took the name Explosives Factory Maribyrnong is not confirmed.

Changes during its life

  1. 1921Placed under the control of the new Munitions Supply Board in the Department of Defence.
  2. 26 April 1939Moved with the Munitions Supply Board to the new Department of Supply and Development.
  3. 11 June 1940Moved to the new Department of Munitions.
  4. 6 April 1948Moved to the Department of Supply and Development when the Department of Munitions was absorbed into it.
  5. 16 March 1950Moved to the new Department of Supply.
  6. 11 May 1951Moved to the new Department of Defence Production with the other government explosives and munitions factories.
  7. 23 April 1958Returned to the Department of Supply when the Department of Defence Production was absorbed into it.
  8. 12 June 1974Moved to the Department of Manufacturing Industry when the Department of Supply was abolished.
  9. 22 December 1975Moved to the Department of Industry and Commerce.
  10. 8 November 1976Moved to the new Department of Productivity, which took over the government defence factories.
  11. 3 November 1980Returned to the Department of Industry and Commerce when the Department of Productivity was abolished.
  12. 7 May 1982Moved to the new Department of Defence Support.
  13. 13 December 1984Moved to the Department of Defence as part of the Office of Defence Production when the Department of Defence Support was abolished.

How it ended

Transferred in May 1989, with the other government munitions and clothing factories of the Office of Defence Production, to the new Commonwealth company Australian Defence Industries Pty Ltd, which closed the factory in 1994.

Main functions

  • Manufacture of cordite and other propellants
  • Manufacture of explosives for shells and ammunition
  • Explosives process development

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Department of Defence.

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.