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Jack’s Magazine

Acknowledgment

Working Heritage acknowledges that the Jack’s Magazine site played a role in the colonial expansion of Victoria which resulted in the dispossession and alienation of Country from its traditional owners the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung. It is Working Heritage’s intent to confront this reality and make genuine steps towards reconciliation.  

The Property

The impressive, and somewhat concealed, property of Jack’s Magazine was opened in 1878 to safely store gunpowder imported into the colony of Victoria. The site later provided storage for other dangerous materials used in the ammunition factories that linked the building to the area’s broader industrial military precinct known as the ‘Arsenal of Australia’. Incorporating a large site on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, the property includes two magazines, a variety of ex-storage and administrative buildings, blast mounds, tunnels, a canal, and an imposing perimeter bluestone wall.

The Victorian Government appointed Working Heritage to manage Jack’s Magazine in 2015 and since then we have been actively working to revitalise the property and convert it into a vibrant economic and community space that will be consistently accessible to the public.

Current Use

Since 2016, creative tenants have been utilising a series of spaces at Jack's Magazine on a low-cost basis as part of the Jack's Reloaded program.

Visiting the Site

  • The property is open on the first Sunday of each Month for guided tours which can be booked here.
  • Jack's Magazine is a largely untouched former industrial facility and is not yet fully accessible. Please contact us if you have specific queries about accessibility.
  • Follow our social media for event updates. Links are available at the bottom of the page.

Venue Hire

This vast site houses multiple buildings of varying sizes. Working Heritage is proud to offer these buildings for lease or short-term venue hire. We have invested extensively in upgrading the site for re-use and adaptation. Potential uses range from retail, tourism, hospitality, and creative industries. We also cater for group events, art exhibitions, markets, filming events and product launches.

For enquiries: [email protected] or 0415 473 266

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