Press photo of the CGEF, Maribyrnong

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1940

Overview

Original press photograph of workers from the Commonwealth Government Explosives Factory filling shells with explosives.
The worker on the left is wearing a woollen tunic the same as that in the collection.
There are several labels and inscriptions on the reverse of the photograph.

Historical information

The Commonwealth Government Explosives Factory was the key installation in a network of defence factories which made Maribyrnong the Arsenal of Australia from 1910 to the 1980s.
The Explosives Factory was critical in the establishment of defence industries in Australia, making it one of the most important outcomes of Federation effecting defence and foreign policy in the 20th century.
The EFM was the first Government explosives factory (and only one until the Second World War) manufacturing Cordite for ammunition shells and other propellants and explosives.
The Defence site of 315 acres housed up to 500 structures in its heyday. The Munitions Supply Laboratories (M.S.L.) was another of the important facilitires on the site.
Local and foreign dignitaries were taken on tours of the site to show off Australia's defence capabilities.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00113

Item type

Photographs

Themes

Photography
Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Photographic Paper

Prints (Photographic)

Width

230 mm

Height or length

180 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On back of photo:

Top right hand side:
"..EF. DEPT.
10-11'40
N.E.A."

Bottom right hand side:

Bar code - historicimages.com
"A59442" in pencil

Information panel transcribed below.

Transcripts

"AUSTRALIAN WAR EFFORT IN MEN AND MACHINES
BENDING ALL HER ENERGIES TO AID THE EMPIRE,
AUSTRALIA, AS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR, IS WORKING
AT TOP SPEED TO PRODUCE TRAINED MEN, MUNITIONS,
PLANES, WARSHIPS AND THE THOUSAND AND ONE
IMPLEMENTS OF WAR FOR THE DEFENSE OF BRITIAN [sic],
THE NEAR EAST AND HER OWN SHORES. AS NEVER BEFORE
AUSTRALIANS, MEN AND WOMEN, ARE WORKING FOR
VICTORY. THESE PICTURES, JUST RECEIVED FROM THE
ANTIPODES, SHOW HOW THAT WORK IS GOING ON."

"576073
AT THE COMMONWEALTH EXPLOSIVES FACTORY IN
MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA, ALL TYPES OF AUSTRALIAN-
MADE PROJECTILES ARE FILLED WITH EXPLOSIVES. THESE
BOMBS ARE FOR THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE. REAR
RIGHT CAN BE SEEN MEDIUM SHELLS AND REAR LEFT
TRENCH MORTAR SHELLS."

"CREDIT LINE (ACME) 9/30/40 BURS #1 FOR CAN SJ MEX
PASSED BY CENSOR LVL MIL GW"

Keywords

Year

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance