Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

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.

  In the lead up to Anzac Day on the 25th April, Find my Past has created the Anzac Memory Bank to allow people to share personal and family stories about Australia and New Zealand involvement in wars and conflict around the world.  Information and articles from military experts will also be available. In addition Find my Past will provide free access to all its military records from Monday 22April to Friday 26th April.

In April 1942 articles in the Essendon Gazette reflected the unease felt in the community as Australia faced war on her doorstep.  Mr T. Pidd, the Defence Training Inspector at Essendon Technical School, drew up plans for a stirrup pump capable of pumping water out of air raid shelters. The pump was made by modifying a car pump, and his blue prints were made available to the public for 3/- Lighting restrictions were also in place. Inside lighting was only permissible if curtains, drapes or blinds obscured the windows. No   light was to be seen outside   a building between sunset and dawn. Residents were instructed to be ready to observe a total blackout at a moments notice. You can view the original articles from  the Essendon Gazette dated 16/04/1942. Available on microfilm in the Sam Merrifield Library.