Silverwater, New South Wales - 1897-present

Newington Armory

Newington Armory was established by the British Navy in 1897 on a bend in the Parramatta River at Silverwater. The site was selected for its distance from population, its river access for resupply by barge, and the natural containment provided by water on 3 sides. The corrugated iron storage magazines built that year were designed for a single purpose: to hold explosives safely.

The armory supplied naval vessels through both world wars and operated as a military and then civilian storage facility through most of the 20th century. When the Department of Defence transferred the site to the NSW Government ahead of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the athletes' village was built on the inland portions of the estate. The historic armory precinct at the waterfront was retained.

The corrugated iron magazines are among the most complete examples of colonial industrial construction in Australia. The ventilation louvres on the storage buildings were designed to prevent sparks, which also determines the quality of light inside. The river access infrastructure, the heritage buildings, and the layout of the precinct remain largely intact.

The armory is open to the public periodically through the National Parks and Wildlife Service.