Woodville North laboratories
In 1946 the administration building of the former Finsbury Munition Factory was taken over by the Dept of Supply’s Defence Research Laboratories; later known as Materials Research Laboratories and various names until transferred to a Division of CSIRO, closed 2007, sold, opening as school 2021.
Finsbury Munition Factory was built 1940, one of several WWII munition factories in South Australia. Production of cartridge cases & shell fuses began Feb 1941; these were sent by rail to the Salisbury Explosives Factory for filling & assembly. Women over 21 were paid £2/7/6 per week and men £4 per week. There were 20 major buildings & many smaller on the 50 hectare site. A spur railway was built from Woodville station for the transport of goods & workers. (The former Finsbury station closed 1979 and the site is now occupied by a mosque.) After the war many buildings were taken over by various manufacturing industries. The site of the factory was known at first as Cheltenham (as it was near the Cheltenham racecourse), then Finsbury; name of suburb changed 1967 to Woodville North.
“Sixty men will be working early next week clearing and grubbing boxthorn and on other preliminary work on a big area of vacant land just north of the Cheltenham Racecourse. The Commonwealth factory for the manufacture of brass cartridge cases and fuses will be erected here for the Ministry of Munitions. . . A branch railway from the Port line near Woodville is expected to be laid to the Cheltenham works, which will include foundries and rolling mills for melting and fabricating the brass.” [The Mail 3 Aug 1940]
“plans for the new £1,000,000 rolling mill and cartridge factory at Cheltenham would be completed soon. This and the other plant at Salisbury would be distinct from the Hendon works. . . The whole of the machinery had first to be made in Australia and the rolling mill would have to be established before the making of cartridges could begin.”[Advertiser 9 Aug 1940]
“Ten houses were included in the area which the Commonwealth Government was acquiring for the munition works at Cheltenham Park. . . Occupants had received notice to vacate these premises, one of which was being demolished. The others would have to be removed. It was assumed that no house would be destroyed unnecessarily.” [News 20 Aug 1940
“Women would be wanted in almost unlimited numbers for work in the Cheltenham munitions works. . . they should register for work at the Port Adelaide Labor Exchange, next to the Courthouse, in Commercial road.” [Advertiser 3 Sep 1940]
“South Australian munitions works. . . The base wage rate will be £2/7/6 per week for women over 21, and there will be increases according to promotion. The base wage for men will be £4 per week, with margins according to classification. The main munition works for South Australia are a small arms factory at Hendon, rolling mills, and foundry at Cheltenham, and a filling factory at Salisbury, with annexes at Islington and work undertaken by private firms.” [The Mail 21 Sep 1940]
“Advanced progress is reported from Finsbury Park, where a Commonwealth gun ammunition factory is being established for the manufacture and repair of gun cartridge cases and fuses for shell. Many of the buildings have now been completed.” [Advertiser 1 Jan 1941]
“Department of Munitions. . . The numbers to be employed at the three Government factories were given as between 6,000 and 8,000 at the explosives and filling factory at Salisbury, about 4,000 at Finsbury Park, gun ammunition factory, and 2,000 at the small arms ammunition factory at Hendon. To this should be added several thousands more at the Islington tool room and shell annexes and at the various other munition annexes.” [Advertiser 3 Jan 1941]
“Commonwealth of Australia. Department of Munitions. A Senior Draughtsman is required for the Fuse and Cartridge Factory. Finsbury. . . This is a temporary position for at least the duration of the war.” [News 5 Mar 1941 advert]
“The gun ammunition factory at Finsbury for the production of brass components for gun ammunition, such as cartridge cases and fuses, was being completed, and production in certain sections was beginning. Further additions had been authorised.” [Advertiser 21 May 1941]
“South Australian workmen since last August have constructed solid, well-ventilated, and naturally lit buildings on a large proportion of the site of more than 100 acres. Laid down miles of smooth-surfaced bituminised roads, service pipes, and rail tracks. Installed huge quantities of machinery, all of which has been designed and manufactured in Australia — a good proportion in South Australia. Recruited as raw laborers, South Australians have shown a ready adaptation to many phases of the work, particularly in the foundry and rolling mill. Skilled tradesmen have brought their expert knowledge to this particular type of war work with refreshing results.” [News 18 Jul 1941]
“Mr. S. McGregor Reid. . . will take over offices at the Finsbury munitions works, from where he will control activities at other munition factories in the State.” [News 23 Jul 1941]
“A big program of alterations is in progress at the Woodville Railway Station, which will now become a junction of increasing importance. The Railways Commissioner (Mr. Anderson) said today that it was designed to provide the greater facilities needed in view of the new line to the Finsbury (or Cheltenham) Munition Works, and the generally heavier traffic. With a new track on the north side, the up platform would have a track on each side, making an island platform.” [News 7 Aug 1941]
“How Australian Industry Was Harnessed For War. . . Australia achieved an industrial miracle during the war in expanding munitions production from almost negligible proportions to an amazing variety of arms and equipment, costing hundreds of millions of pounds. It was an effort which raised Australia's industrial standards and status, and earned widespread gratitude and appreciation abroad. . . by the standards of modern warfare, the munitions industry in this country was virtually non-existent when war began.” [Advertiser 11 Aug 1945]
“employes at Finsbury munition factory will probably be kept employed until Christmas.” [Advertiser 12 Dec 1945]
“South Australia's first woman munition worker today said ‘good-bye’ to her job at Finsbury after a war effort which lasted almost six years. . . Miss Lorna Matthews. . . was a forewoman at Hendon before being transferred to Finsbury. . . She signed on at Hendon on April 15, 1940, after having trained in Melbourne for four months.” [News 6 Feb 1946]
“Vactric Electric Appliances, to be established at the former munitions plant at Finsbury, will have its first vacuum cleaners coming off the production line in three to four months.” [News 14 Mar 1946]
“The mammoth Finsbury factory is likely to become the headquarters of several new South Australian industries. Two companies have already decided to take over sections of the establishment, and other firms are negotiating with the Federal Government. Vactric Electrical Industries — one of the two firms which have already decided to establish their manufacturing plants at Finsbury — has taken over the big No. 2 fuse factory near the Torrens road entrance, and a boiler house. Preparatory work for beginning production has begun. Manufactures will be mainly vacuum cleaners and fractional horsepower motors. The other company — Firestone Rubber Co.— will occupy the main buildings in the stores section at Finsbury North, facing the Main Junction road.” [Advertiser 6 Apr 1946]
“Although it had been operating only since March, the Munitions Supply Laboratory at Finsbury had already carried out work for 16 of the State's largest industrial concerns. . . it was proposed to increase the present staff of 18 to about 50 experts and assistants, skilled in scientific and technological matters, particularly in the field of secondary metallurgy and industrial chemistry. . . the facilities to be provided would include complete equipment for carrying out metallurgical investigations. X-ray and radium examination of castings, weldments and bearings, pyrometric calibration and certification, and a general technical information service. Costing about £3,500 an X-ray plant, which would be used for detecting flaws in metal, would arrive probably next week. The laboratory would take over from the Adelaide University the calibration, certification, and checking of industrial pyrometric installation throughout South Australia. The University had been carrying out the service on behalf of the Mnnitions Supply laboratories since 1940.” [Advertiser 13 Jun 1947]
“Industry Takes Over At Finsbury. All available space at the big war-born munitions factories in South Australia has now been allotted to new or expanding secondary industries, or is held under option by interests which plan to come here. Radios, refrigerators, car parts and accessories, baths, sinks, vacuum cleaners, a range of electrical equipment and scores of other consumer goods are flowing from the sprawling saw-toothed buildings which were built to make the materials of war.” [Advertiser 6 Dec 1947]
“chief officer of the Commonwealth Defence Laboratory at Finsbury (Mr. J. S. McNeil)” [News 21 Oct 1949]
“A mobile X-ray camera, the only one of its kind in the State, and one of three in the British Empire, was used here for the first time yesterday in efforts to trace suspected internal cracks in a steam boiler at the Glenelg Knitting Mills. The machine, owned and operated by Defence Research Laboratories, Finsbury, is operated by remote control, so that the operator will not be affected by X-ray radiation.” [Advertiser 28 Apr 1950]
Woodville North laboratories
In 1946 the administration building of the former Finsbury Munition Factory was taken over by the Dept of Supply’s Defence Research Laboratories; later known as Materials Research Laboratories and various names until transferred to a Division of CSIRO, closed 2007, sold, opening as school 2021.
Finsbury Munition Factory was built 1940, one of several WWII munition factories in South Australia. Production of cartridge cases & shell fuses began Feb 1941; these were sent by rail to the Salisbury Explosives Factory for filling & assembly. Women over 21 were paid £2/7/6 per week and men £4 per week. There were 20 major buildings & many smaller on the 50 hectare site. A spur railway was built from Woodville station for the transport of goods & workers. (The former Finsbury station closed 1979 and the site is now occupied by a mosque.) After the war many buildings were taken over by various manufacturing industries. The site of the factory was known at first as Cheltenham (as it was near the Cheltenham racecourse), then Finsbury; name of suburb changed 1967 to Woodville North.
“Sixty men will be working early next week clearing and grubbing boxthorn and on other preliminary work on a big area of vacant land just north of the Cheltenham Racecourse. The Commonwealth factory for the manufacture of brass cartridge cases and fuses will be erected here for the Ministry of Munitions. . . A branch railway from the Port line near Woodville is expected to be laid to the Cheltenham works, which will include foundries and rolling mills for melting and fabricating the brass.” [The Mail 3 Aug 1940]
“plans for the new £1,000,000 rolling mill and cartridge factory at Cheltenham would be completed soon. This and the other plant at Salisbury would be distinct from the Hendon works. . . The whole of the machinery had first to be made in Australia and the rolling mill would have to be established before the making of cartridges could begin.”[Advertiser 9 Aug 1940]
“Ten houses were included in the area which the Commonwealth Government was acquiring for the munition works at Cheltenham Park. . . Occupants had received notice to vacate these premises, one of which was being demolished. The others would have to be removed. It was assumed that no house would be destroyed unnecessarily.” [News 20 Aug 1940
“Women would be wanted in almost unlimited numbers for work in the Cheltenham munitions works. . . they should register for work at the Port Adelaide Labor Exchange, next to the Courthouse, in Commercial road.” [Advertiser 3 Sep 1940]
“South Australian munitions works. . . The base wage rate will be £2/7/6 per week for women over 21, and there will be increases according to promotion. The base wage for men will be £4 per week, with margins according to classification. The main munition works for South Australia are a small arms factory at Hendon, rolling mills, and foundry at Cheltenham, and a filling factory at Salisbury, with annexes at Islington and work undertaken by private firms.” [The Mail 21 Sep 1940]
“Advanced progress is reported from Finsbury Park, where a Commonwealth gun ammunition factory is being established for the manufacture and repair of gun cartridge cases and fuses for shell. Many of the buildings have now been completed.” [Advertiser 1 Jan 1941]
“Department of Munitions. . . The numbers to be employed at the three Government factories were given as between 6,000 and 8,000 at the explosives and filling factory at Salisbury, about 4,000 at Finsbury Park, gun ammunition factory, and 2,000 at the small arms ammunition factory at Hendon. To this should be added several thousands more at the Islington tool room and shell annexes and at the various other munition annexes.” [Advertiser 3 Jan 1941]
“Commonwealth of Australia. Department of Munitions. A Senior Draughtsman is required for the Fuse and Cartridge Factory. Finsbury. . . This is a temporary position for at least the duration of the war.” [News 5 Mar 1941 advert]
“The gun ammunition factory at Finsbury for the production of brass components for gun ammunition, such as cartridge cases and fuses, was being completed, and production in certain sections was beginning. Further additions had been authorised.” [Advertiser 21 May 1941]
“South Australian workmen since last August have constructed solid, well-ventilated, and naturally lit buildings on a large proportion of the site of more than 100 acres. Laid down miles of smooth-surfaced bituminised roads, service pipes, and rail tracks. Installed huge quantities of machinery, all of which has been designed and manufactured in Australia — a good proportion in South Australia. Recruited as raw laborers, South Australians have shown a ready adaptation to many phases of the work, particularly in the foundry and rolling mill. Skilled tradesmen have brought their expert knowledge to this particular type of war work with refreshing results.” [News 18 Jul 1941]
“Mr. S. McGregor Reid. . . will take over offices at the Finsbury munitions works, from where he will control activities at other munition factories in the State.” [News 23 Jul 1941]
“A big program of alterations is in progress at the Woodville Railway Station, which will now become a junction of increasing importance. The Railways Commissioner (Mr. Anderson) said today that it was designed to provide the greater facilities needed in view of the new line to the Finsbury (or Cheltenham) Munition Works, and the generally heavier traffic. With a new track on the north side, the up platform would have a track on each side, making an island platform.” [News 7 Aug 1941]
“How Australian Industry Was Harnessed For War. . . Australia achieved an industrial miracle during the war in expanding munitions production from almost negligible proportions to an amazing variety of arms and equipment, costing hundreds of millions of pounds. It was an effort which raised Australia's industrial standards and status, and earned widespread gratitude and appreciation abroad. . . by the standards of modern warfare, the munitions industry in this country was virtually non-existent when war began.” [Advertiser 11 Aug 1945]
“employes at Finsbury munition factory will probably be kept employed until Christmas.” [Advertiser 12 Dec 1945]
“South Australia's first woman munition worker today said ‘good-bye’ to her job at Finsbury after a war effort which lasted almost six years. . . Miss Lorna Matthews. . . was a forewoman at Hendon before being transferred to Finsbury. . . She signed on at Hendon on April 15, 1940, after having trained in Melbourne for four months.” [News 6 Feb 1946]
“Vactric Electric Appliances, to be established at the former munitions plant at Finsbury, will have its first vacuum cleaners coming off the production line in three to four months.” [News 14 Mar 1946]
“The mammoth Finsbury factory is likely to become the headquarters of several new South Australian industries. Two companies have already decided to take over sections of the establishment, and other firms are negotiating with the Federal Government. Vactric Electrical Industries — one of the two firms which have already decided to establish their manufacturing plants at Finsbury — has taken over the big No. 2 fuse factory near the Torrens road entrance, and a boiler house. Preparatory work for beginning production has begun. Manufactures will be mainly vacuum cleaners and fractional horsepower motors. The other company — Firestone Rubber Co.— will occupy the main buildings in the stores section at Finsbury North, facing the Main Junction road.” [Advertiser 6 Apr 1946]
“Although it had been operating only since March, the Munitions Supply Laboratory at Finsbury had already carried out work for 16 of the State's largest industrial concerns. . . it was proposed to increase the present staff of 18 to about 50 experts and assistants, skilled in scientific and technological matters, particularly in the field of secondary metallurgy and industrial chemistry. . . the facilities to be provided would include complete equipment for carrying out metallurgical investigations. X-ray and radium examination of castings, weldments and bearings, pyrometric calibration and certification, and a general technical information service. Costing about £3,500 an X-ray plant, which would be used for detecting flaws in metal, would arrive probably next week. The laboratory would take over from the Adelaide University the calibration, certification, and checking of industrial pyrometric installation throughout South Australia. The University had been carrying out the service on behalf of the Mnnitions Supply laboratories since 1940.” [Advertiser 13 Jun 1947]
“Industry Takes Over At Finsbury. All available space at the big war-born munitions factories in South Australia has now been allotted to new or expanding secondary industries, or is held under option by interests which plan to come here. Radios, refrigerators, car parts and accessories, baths, sinks, vacuum cleaners, a range of electrical equipment and scores of other consumer goods are flowing from the sprawling saw-toothed buildings which were built to make the materials of war.” [Advertiser 6 Dec 1947]
“chief officer of the Commonwealth Defence Laboratory at Finsbury (Mr. J. S. McNeil)” [News 21 Oct 1949]
“A mobile X-ray camera, the only one of its kind in the State, and one of three in the British Empire, was used here for the first time yesterday in efforts to trace suspected internal cracks in a steam boiler at the Glenelg Knitting Mills. The machine, owned and operated by Defence Research Laboratories, Finsbury, is operated by remote control, so that the operator will not be affected by X-ray radiation.” [Advertiser 28 Apr 1950]