Newington Armory

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Newington Arms Depot was a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ammunitions depot at Newington, New South Wales, Australia.

1 History
2 References
3 External Links

[edit] History

[edit] Royal Marines

A powder magazine and camp and were built in 1897 by the Royal Marines as an ammunition depot for admiralty ships. A small gauge 610mm (2') tramway, conveyed the ammuntion to and from the wharf to the magazine.

[edit] New South Wales Navy

The New South Wales Navy took over the site from the Royal Marines soon after the Federation of Australia in 1901.

[edit] Royal Australian Navy

After the passing of the Naval Defence Act in 1910, by the Commonwealth that formally established the Commonwealth Naval Forces, the Commonwealth took over the ammunition depot and expanded the facilities. It became known as the Royal Australian Naval Armament Depot (RANAD).

[edit] World War II

During World War II, the Newington Arms Depot was utilised by the US Army, US Navy and Royal Navy. The site was extensively modified and expanded with large magazine bunkers, extension of the small gauge 610mm (2') tramway, wharf extensions and installation of cranes alongside the wharf.

[edit] Post War

The RAN occupied the site, until the pressure of encroaching suburbs neccessitated the need to relocte the ammunition depot. The RAN started to vacate the site in 1996, with ownership transferred to the Government of New South Wales to be developed as the Sydney 2000 Olympics Athlete's Village and the suburb of Newington. The RAN finally vacated the armory in December 1999 with the last ammunition operation conducted over the wharf on 14 December 1999.