History Mystery Monday: The Mystery of Niddrie’s Military Past

While walking and chatting on a Local History walk in Niddrie last year, a participant mentioned that there were gun placements built in Niddrie during World War II, facing towards what is now Matthews Avenue. Do you know anything more about this History Mystery?

Essendon Airport was substantially commandeered by the RAAF during WWII, and played a strategic role in the defence of the nation. A number of barracks were erected on the western side of Wirraway Road to accommodate this use, as well as machine gun batteries and defensive trenches. It seems likely that there would have been several gun placements, as the airport would have been a target during the war.

Does anyone have any local knowledge about Niddrie's mysterious military past? We'd love to hear it!

Share your information by emailing librarian@mvcc.vic.gov.au, or add a comment below.

Essendon Aerodrome, 1945. Photograph by Charles Daniel Pratt, courtesy of the State Library of Victoria.

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