The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Rob Andrew’s career was as an Environmental Health Officer with various councils around Victoria. As an Altona resident he became interested in the Truganina Explosives Reserve when he heard the site was to be sold. He was concerned that because of the prospect of commercial development the community would lose tranquil open parklands. Through his involvement with the Reserve he realised the historical, geomorphic, flora and fauna significance of the site.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

native grasses, explosives, cheetham wetlands, cheetham salt works, doug grant, chirnside, cliff gibson, lava plain, brown coal, sand ridges, selwyn fault, rowsley fault, victorian coastal strategy, aboriginal stone artefacts, aboriginal habitation, aboriginal remains, red gums, casuarinas, altona skipper butterfly, orange bellied parrot

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Judy Hindle and Andrew Shannon worked jointly on saving the Truganina Explosives Reserve from being sold for development by the State Government. Judy was an Altona resident and Andrew was an environment planner, first with Parks Victoria and then the local council. Their motivation was to not only save the site for open space but to capture what Judy described as the only in-tact historical site in the area.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

chirnside, explosives, tin fence, coastal vegetation, parks victoria, joan kirner, cheetham wetlands, doug grant, gahnia, salt marsh, sand ridges, rob andrew, nessie hardy, aboriginal middens, altona, truganina swamp

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Annette Xibarras and Bill Nicholson Jnr discuss the indigenous significance of the Truganina Explosives Reserve. At the time of the interview Annette was the manager of the Kulin Nations Cultural Heritage Organisation. Bill, a Wurundjeri Elder, was a Wurundjeri Cultural Officer. They discussed their childhood, aboriginal customs, connection with the land and the locating of aboriginal remains at the Museum of Victoria and the re-burial at the site where they were found.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

julia jones, princess balam balam, archaeological survey, middens, wurundjeri, kulin nations, coranderrk, braybrook, sacred sites, mt william, bunurong, museum victoria, altona, martha nicholson

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Cliff Gibson, a Williamstown resident, discusses the handling and shipping of explosives in the Port of Melbourne between 1863 to 1962 and the establishment, development and history of Truganina Explosives Reserve. In the interview he mentions the names of the Lighters and Ships used to transport the explosives to and from the Truganina Explosives Reserve.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

explosives, lighter, sailing lighters, the brig martha, deer park, australian chemical company, nobel explosives company, ici, james scott and company, jacks magazine, william wardell, george thomas chirnside, 1897, 1901, pier, bill grant, james mullins, 2 foot gauge tramway, explosives trucks, explosive magazines, railway explosives vans, queen street, richard rendle holten, ports and harbours, the lighter truganina, the lighter george stone, rose, mary jane, tarniet, derrimut, boonah, deutgam, naval dockyards williamstown, charlie curry, powder barges, cargo net, alma doepel, huia, wongalla, joseph sims, argonaut, maryland, pirie, lady isobel, taranui, point wilson, failee, captain dyson, hector pirie

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Alan Dyall reminisces on his childhood during the 1930s/40s in Williamstown and Altona in the 1960s. His father, Bill, worked as a lighterman at the Truganina Explosives Reserve.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

albert street williamstown, rabbits, point cook homestead, truganina explosive reserve, lighterman, ports and harbours, charlie curry, lighter, ici, deer park, the strand williamstown, stevedores, hob nails, rope soled shoes, rifle range, snowy jorgensen, sailmaker

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Edgar James (Jim) Melmoth began work at the Truganina Explosives Reserve at age 19 (1952) as part of the maintenance crew – painting, tram line maintenance, storm damage clearance. He helped build the pier extension and the water tower. In this interview he describes some incidents and some amusing stories of the clysdale horses.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

hobsons bay city council, explosives, air raid shelters, altona pier, brown coal, camouflaged fences, world war two, gelignite, horse drawn wagons, clysdale horses, lighters, williamstown, upton street altona, water tower, adze, john gates, public works department, explosives pier, cherry lake, altona, altona meadows, lennie finley

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). John Gates began working at the Truganina Explosives Reserve handling explosives at the magazines in 1946. He was appointed assistant manager in 1956. When the site closed in 1962 he was retrained and worked at the Births, Deaths and Marriages offices. In this interview he and his step-daughter, Sue King, talk of life in Altona, life on the Explosives Reserve and some of the people who worked there.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

hobsons bay city council, pier street altona, alma doepel, explosives, lighters, gates court altona meadows, christmas picnic

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Owen and Clive Hyde are the sons of Joe and Joyce Hyde. Joe was the last Officer in charge of the Truganina Explosives Reserve. The family moved to the reserve on 11 December 1952 and continued to live there after the Reserve closed in 1962. Owen lived at the house until his early twenties. He discusses growing up at the Reserve. The voice of Joyce Hyde can also be heard during the interview.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

hobsons bay, draught horses, explosives reserve pier, myxomatosis, pine trees, queen street altona, edwardian garden, government superintendent houses, mcdonald, commonwealth bank, dr john lewin, altona, summer of the seventeenth doll, leslie george hyde, joe hyde, george grant, clive hyde, williamstown technical, mrs cronin, angus and robertson, pier fire, dutch migrants, communist party, laboratory, brass nails

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Joyce Hyde was married to Joe (Lesley) Hyde, the last Officer in Charge of the Truganina Explosives Reserve. They moved into the weather board house on 11 December 1952 when Joe was the assistant manager of the Reserve. They moved into the brick house when Joe was appointed Officer in Charge in 1956. Even though the site closed in 1962 and Joe was transferred to the head office in Spencer Street as Explosives Inspector, the Hyde family continued to live in the brick house. Joyce discusses her life at the Explosives Reserve and the early development of Altona.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

altona, upton street altona, harrington court, coal mine, horse trough, mr piper, diggers hall, owen hyde, clive hyde, joe hyde, salt works, horse drawn explosives trucks

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Doug and Noel Grant’s Grandfather, Don Grant, was officer in charge of Truganina Explosives Reserve from 1910-1930. On his retirement, his son, William (known as Bill) took over the position until 1956. Along with their two older brothers and younger sister, Doug and Noel Grant grew up, first in the assistant manager’s weatherboard cottage and then in the brick house which was set aside for the officer in charge, until they married and moved into their own homes in their early 1920s. On returning from the second world war, Noel Grant worked as a magazine assistant of explosives on the site from 1946, When the site had closed down in 1962 he worked as an inspector of explosives at the Explosives Branch in Melbourne until he retired in 1985. During that time Noel was asked to move back on site, meaning that three generations of Grants have lived on the site during the twentieth century. Doug Grant worked for ICI/Nobel in head office in 1940 and their older brother Alan worked at the Nobel Explosive Company in Deer Park from 1937. After returning from the Second World War, Alan bought a transport business that had once had the licence to cart explosives in and around the state. They discuss their memories of the living at Truganina Explosives Reserve and the workings of the Reserve, including the names of men who worked there, ships which carried the explosives and life in and around Altona.

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018

hobsons bay, altona, galvanised iron fence, picket fence, golf course, altona school, margaret grant, bill grant, explosives magazine, lighters, joe hyde, alex grant, pines scout camp, maribynong river, 1896, inspector of explosives, pier, point wilson, werribee sewerage farm, george grant, lighterman, huia, argonaut, pirie, alma doepel, merton street altona, horse, jessie grant, jean grant, sandal, kilmartin, lewis, currie, todd, robinson, balwyn

Tramway on Explosives Loading Pier. The Clydesdale horse was one of many working at the Reserve.

Keeper's Residence, circa 1915. Members of the Grant family standing in front of the residence. Keeper Donald (Dan) Grant at left, his wife Alice Matilda Great at right, on verandah.