State Government heritage lists former Woodman Point munitions magazines

25/9/02
Three single room buildings built in 1941 to store explosives for the Navy have been interim listed by the State Government in Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said the historical significance of the munitions magazines at Woodman Point Recreation and Nature Reserve had been assessed through the Heritage Council of WA's registration program.
"The three buildings were the only munitions magazines of this design to ever be built in WA," Dr Edwards said.
"The request from the Commonwealth Department of the Interior to construct the magazines on the Mines Department Reserve came following Australia's entry into the second World War.
"Identical in design, they stored cordite, a material used in the manufacture of weapons and ammunition at a factory in Welshpool for the war effort."
Dr Edwards said the buildings formed part of a precinct of existing munitions storage related structures, including the Owen anchorage explosives jetty and the remnants of the narrow gauge railway sidings which once serviced the explosives reserve.
"The reserve passed back into the control of the State Government in 1945, and the three magazines were used for storing mining explosives," she said.
"But with the areas urban expansion and plans to improve recreation access to the beach north of Woodman Point, explosive storage was relocated to Baldivis in 1984."
Each of the buildings have extended cantilevered eaves, and are surrounded by roof-high blast barriers made from bagged concrete.
"The magazines are also significant for the innovative design and building materials used to withstand WA's high temperatures, and to protect the volatile materials from the risk of fire," Dr Edwards said.
"This included a double layer roof made from material selected for its ability to be cool and fire retardant."
One of the buildings was taken over in 1995 by Woodman Point Caravan Park, and has since been restored and adapted for use as a camp kitchen.
The buildings are currently vested in the Department of Sport and Recreation, but are managed through the Department of Conservation and Land Management.
Minister's office: 9220 5050