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FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS
PART OF FORMER ORDNANCE FACTORY, WESTS ROAD MARIBYRNONG AND ORDNANCE RESERVE MARIBYRNONG AND WATERFORD AVENUE MARIBYRNONG, MARIBYRNONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS SOHE 2008
FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS SOHE 2008
FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS SOHE 2008
FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS SOHE 2008
FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS SOHE 2008
FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS SOHE 2008
h01098 1 rafa barracks 2001
H01098 rafa barracks guard room 1995
H01098 rafa barracks gun shed 1995
H01098 rafa barracks horse hospital demolished 1995
h01098 rafa barracks plan 2
H01098 rafa barracks 1995
H01098 rafa barracks guard room 2001 pm1
H01098 rafa barracks gymnasium 2001 pm1
H01098 rafa barracks orderly room 2001 pm1
H01098 rafa barracks qstore infirmary 2001 pm1
H01098 rafa barracks gun shed 2001pm1
h01098 rafa barracks commandant s house 2002
h01098 rafa barracks single men s quarters 2002
h01098 rafa barracks captain s quarters outhouse 2002
h01098 rafa barracks captain s quarters 2002
Rafa Barracks 1 Ordnance Reserve
Rafa Barracks 2 Ordnance Reserve
Rafa Barracks 3 Ordnance Reserve
Rafa Barracks Plan
On this page:

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The buildings that comprise the former Royal Australian Field Artillery (RAFA) Barracks of 1911 are red brick with either slate or corrugated iron roofs grouped around the former parade ground. The accommodation buildings are on the western side of the parade ground with the administration buildings to the east and the stables, gun shed and service buildings to the north. Further north are separate residences for the Commandant, Captain and Single Officers constructed in 1913. There is a consistent architecture throughout the RAFA Barracks which is an eclectic blend of elements of the Federation Free Classical and Arts and Crafts styles favoured by Commonwealth architect John Smith Murdoch (1862 -1945). 
How is it significant?
The former RAFA Barracks is historically, architecturally and socially significant to the State of Victoria. 
Why is it significant?
The former RAFA Barracks buildings form an important, architecturally cohesive complex of early Commonwealth military buildings associated with a field artillery battery. The layout of the complex with the accommodation buildings on the western side of the former parade ground, the administration buildings to the east and the stables, gun shed and service buildings to the north, and distinctly separate quarters for the commanding officers reflects its military function. 
The former Royal Australian Field Artillery Barracks is historically significant as the only field artillery depot in Victoria remaining from the pre-World War One era and as a rare example of a site which demonstrates the relationship between soldiers, horses and guns. It is also historically important for its use as a First World War training depot. 
The architectural design of the RAFA Barracks buildings is significant as the work of the distinguished Commonwealth architect John Smith Murdoch whose nationally important works include Provisional Parliament House and Yarralumla Canberra, HMAS Cerberus Crib Point, RAAF Point Cook and the former High Court, 450 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. The three Arts and Crafts Bungalow style houses for the commanding officers were some of the earliest Commonwealth Government houses by Murdoch designed in a Garden Suburb manner. They were the earliest domestic designs by Murdoch in Victoria and were the forerunner to the Garden Suburb designs of many other houses by Murdoch in Australia. 
The RAFA Barracks is of interest as a good example of a complex of buildings which have been adapted with minimal alteration from one significant use as a military barracks to another as administration and process buildings in a nationally important munitions factory. 
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    • History

      FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS - History

      Associated People: Owner AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRIES;

      Permit Exemptions

      FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by Heritage Victoria provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan. General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. SITE/GARDEN WORKS
      The process of gardening, mowing, mulching, removal of dead plants, disease and weed control, emergency and safety works.
      Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard AS 4373 Pruning of Amenity Trees.
      Installation, removal and replacement of garden watering systems.
      Repair, conservation and maintenance of hard landscaping elements (pavings etc.) which replace like with like.       EXTERNAL:
      Removal of air-conditioners, pipework, wiring, antennae, aerials, and making good.
      Installation of damp-proofing by either injection method, or "grouted pocket" method.       INTERNAL:
      Interior painting/wall-papering to walls and ceilings, provided the preparation work for painting papering does not remove evidence of the building's original paint or other decorative scheme.
      Removal and replacement of existing carpets and flexible floor coverings.
      Removal and replacement of curtain tracks, rods, blinds and other window dressings.
      Refurbishment of bathrooms, toilets, ensuites, kitchens and laundries including removal of existing sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings, and installation of new fixtures, and wall and floor coverings.
      Removal of existing kitchen cupboards, benches and fixtures (stoves, dishwashers etc.) and floor coverings and installation of new kitchen benches and fixtures, including associated plumbing and wiring. NOTE: This exemption does not apply to original pantries, built-in cupboards, stores and their associated shelving.
      Installation of ducted, hydronic, or concealed radiant (Ceiling Foil Radiant Heating or under carpet heating) type heating, provided that the installation does not damage existing skirtings, architraves and the location of the heating unit (boiler etc) is concealed from view.
      Re-wiring provided that all new wiring is fully concealed and any original light switches, pull cords, or GPO's are retained in-situ.
      Note: If wiring is original to the building, timber conduits should be left in situ rather than removed.
      Installation of hooks, nails and other devices for hanging paintings, mirrors, and other wall-mounted works of art.
      Installation of bulk insulation to roof space.
      Installation of smoke detectors.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN FIELD ARTILLERY BARRACKS - Permit Exemption Policy

      Permit Exemption Policy for residences, Ordnance Reserve:

      The three residences fronting Ordnance Reserve, built in 1913, are highly intact externally. Red brick garages, brick paving and picket fences, added in the 1990s, are sympathetic to the hosues and their outbuildings. With one exception the rear outbuildings are also fairly intact. The rear gardens arebare of other intrusions and permits should be required for the addition of other buildings/structures so that visual links are maintained between the houses and their outbuildings.

      The internal layouts of the houses are alsohighly intact however all kitchens, bathrooms and laundries have been modernised in the 1990s. Most original architectural features in the principal spaces have been retained, however all early decorative schemes have been covered over with later schemes. Permit exemptions therefore allow for on-going change of decorative schemes and non-original service areas.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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