Black Powder Mill
The Black Powder Mill represents a significant engineering achievement in the design of an explosives manufacturing process, incorporating a purpose built structure housing dedicated plant and machinery, developed over the course of many centuries for the safe production of a material which is inherently dangerous to handle.
It was built in 1942 at a time when Australia faced great danger, fearing a Japanese invasion from the north as part of a much wider increase in the scope and diversity of Australia’s Munitions industry. The technology was not new and the design followed basic principles which had been developed over a long period of time and are clearly illustrated in this building.
It was required to supplement the output from an existing Black Powder Facility, then operating at the ICIANZ plant also situated at Deer Park which had manufactured black powder for civilian and military use since 1935.
It is now the only explosives processing building open to the public where these engineering design principles can be seen, explained and appreciated. It is the only surviving building of the approximately 400 which made up the Albion Explosives Factory, which closed in 1986.
Following the cessation of explosives manufacture at the Orica Limited site and its consequent re-development, it is now also the only remaining explosives process building in Deer Park designed by ICIANZ. This site has a history of explosives manufacture which extends back over 100 years to 1876.
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Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Engineering Engineering National Marker (EHNM) |
| Award Date | 23 February 2017 |
| Heritage Significance | The Black Powder Mill exemplifies the engineering design principles for an explosives processing operation. These encompass the location of the building, the construction a two-bay building separating processing from mechanical equipment, the method of construction of the processing bay and detailed consideration of how the dangerous process should be operated and controlled.. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Not available |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel Image | Available here. |
