Truganina Explosives Reserve, Historic explosives storage facility in Altona, Australia
Truganina Explosives Reserve is a historic explosives storage facility in Altona containing 61 brick magazines. Each magazine has an independent roof designed to direct blast forces upward and sideways.
The facility operated from 1901 to 1962, storing explosives used in mining and construction work. A narrow-gauge horse-drawn tramway system transported materials throughout the reserve.
The land shows archaeological traces of the Yalukit-willam, an Aboriginal clan who inhabited this area thousands of years ago. Stone tools and artifacts reflect their deep connection to the place.
The reserve opens for visitors on the first Sunday of most months without advance reservation. Dogs are not permitted inside the facility.
The site provides critical habitat for the endangered Altona skipper, a rare butterfly that depends specifically on Gahnia plants found here. This unusual connection shows how industrial sites can become valuable nature reserves.
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