Nungarin Army No.5 Base Ordnance Depot 

Sadly, very few people seem to have heard about the awesome Nungarin Army Museum and even if you're not the military-type, it's still a fascinating place.

 

From September 1942 to May 1962, Nungarin was home to Western Australia’s biggest military storage and maintenance facility, built at a cost of $10 million during World War II as part of Australia’s defence strategy. The infrastructure formed the No.5 Base Ordinance Depot (5BOD).

 

Fearing a Japanese invasion, the military acquired a 1,700 acres (695 hectares) site in Nungarin for its inland location, which was safe from a Japanese carrier-borne aircraft. It also had a reliable water supply, telephone communication, established roads and a rail route. At its peak, around 1,200 troops were based there, including members of the Australian Women’s Army Service.

 

The site featured everything from workshops and stores to a medical centre, powerhouse, post office and the enormous Army Vehicle Workshop - one of the largest timber military buildings in the southern hemisphere.

 

In 1946, the depot’s main storehouse was destroyed in a major fire, wiping out thousands of tyres, engines and generators.

 

After the war, the depot’s role steadily declined. Surplus equipment and buildings were sold off and by May 1962, the site had become completely vacated. In one of the country’s biggest post-war disposal operations, over 1,200 tons of supplies were relocated. The Shire of Nungarin bought parts of the site, including the vehicle workshop, which is now home to the Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum.

 

Today, the museum preserves Nungarin’s military past with displays of tanks, jeeps, trucks, a searchlight and the rare Dingo Scout Car, amongst a huge list of military memorabilia.

 

Like many places, the museum runs on volunteers from all over the state. Please support them in any way you can, even if you just spread the word of their existence.