“Lob this all the way to Prahran?”
That’s probably not the first thought that comes to mind when you look at the Powder Magazine Footscray. Yet, explosives and this site have a long history.
Welcome to the Powder Magazine Footscray. This seemingly quiet spot was once at the heart of Victoria’s explosive story. It played a vital role in the region’s growth.
Let’s step back to the mid-19th century. Victoria was booming. Gold mining was exploding. Infrastructure projects were taking off. All of these industries needed one thing: gunpowder. A safe place was needed to store all of this black powder. Thus, the Powder Magazine Footscray was commissioned.
Construction began in 1857. By 1859, the Powder Magazine Footscray was ready. It could hold 180 tons of explosives. Imagine the scale of that.
The Powder Magazine Footscray had a tramway connecting it to a small dock on the Maribyrnong River. This allowed ships to bring explosives directly to the magazine. Horses would then pull laden cars to the magazine gates.
From the start, many people wanted the Powder Magazine Footscray moved. Finally, in 1879, after the Saltwater River magazine was completed, the Footscray magazine was sold. It became a storehouse and later part of the Mowling Soap and Candle Works.
The Powder Magazine Footscray remained intact until the 1950s or 60s. It was mostly demolished in the early 1970s during the conversion of Cheetham Salt warehousing. This conversion became a fish cannery.
Today, only remnants of this explosive past remain. As you stand here at the Powder Magazine Footscray, think about the vital role this site played in Melbourne’s development. Consider the workers who handled these dangerous materials. Remember the boom times fueled by gunpowder stored right here. The Powder Magazine Footscray, though mostly gone, still echoes with the sounds of a vibrant past.