Subscribe      List an Event or Business      Invite a Writer      Write for WN      Writers      Other Locations
Home > Adelaide > Comments > Dry Creek Explosives Magazines
Your Reply
Optional Image: (jpg or gif)
Your Email:

Security Image:
krnbah
Security Text:
copy text from image above
Highlighted
minimum score: order: subscribe:
Dave, Some years ago the Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a tour through the "Penrice" Soda Ash Plant at Osborne. During the tour, they said that the plant had opened in 1937. I kept on thinking, why would they open such a plant then? and why in such a location? So in a quiet moment I asked the guide, saying that the explanation given didn't sound true and what was the official reason for the plant? He said that with the build up of war efforts around the world in the late 1930's, the government had commissioned the plant to make saltpeter for munitions. The location was because they had ready source of salt from the Dry Creek salt pans, and a ready source of electricity from the Osborne Power Station. The munition works were based in Woodville and Hendon. In fact the factories concerned had wooden floors so that no sparks occurred if tools etc were dropped on the floor
by Phill Rungie (score: 0|5) 2321 days ago
by Dave Walsh (score: 4), 2320 days ago
That's a fascinating story Phill! I did attempt to verify it quickly but couldn't find anything online. However I did discover a story about how the plant started here: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article173223560

Another article detailed the link between saltpetre and explosives here: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48677893