History

The Randwick site has a long history of association with the Australian Defence Force. It was used informally as a rifle range from about the mid 1800's and was formally reserved for this purpose in 1898. In 1902, following Federation, the site (approximately 200 acres incorporating the Army and Navy areas, Moverly Green and Endeavour Hostel) was transferred to the Commonwealth. In the mid-1900's part of the site was dedicated to the production and testing of aircraft engines for QANTAS and sand mining activities also were undertaken in the eastern portions.

In 1990, the Defence Logistics Redevelopment Project was initiated to fundamentally re-orientate the combined Australia Defence Force logistics and supply functions. The six year program consolidated the large military warehousing facilities throughout the Sydney metropolitan area, which had previously been operated independently by each of the services (Army, Navy and Air Force), into one joint service warehouse facility at Moorebank in Western Sydney.

This strategy resulted in the closure of a significant portion (49 hectares) of the former Navy Stores at Bundock Street Randwick, and other large storage depots such as those at Zetland, Rydalmere, Leichhardt, and Regents Park, which became excess to Defence's requirements. The remaining portion (approximately 20 hectares) of the Defence Land will continue to be occupied by the Army for the foreseeable future.

The table below provides an historical overview of the activities and use of the Randwick Defence Site.