History Mystery Monday: A Solution to the Mystery of Niddrie’s Military Past
We used this blog to ask if anyone could tell us more about gun emplacements that were in Niddrie during World War II. http://mooneevalleyfamilylocalhistory.blogspot.com/2020/05/historymysterymonday-mystery-of.html And we got an answer! Peter Willoughby of Essendon Historical Society has shared a fascinating article with us that he wrote originally for their newsletter, back in 2013. The gun placements were part of an anti-aircraft gun station set up during the Second World War. Their site, on Keilor Road, was chosen because it allowed the guns to protect both the Essendon Aerodrome to the north and the Maribyrnong explosive factory complex to the south. At the time the site was open paddocks. Now, its around where the car park sits for Wallis mall. The decision to set up the station was made in August 1940 when defence planners meeting at Victoria Barracks saw conflict with Japan as inevitable, and the chosen land was compulsorily requisitioned indefinitely in September. Soon “Es...