Item details:
Current status*:
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Unlisted; nominated
in 2006 for inclusion on Bega Valley Shire Council's Local Environment Plan; as yet not inspected or assessed.
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Name of item:
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Former name/s:
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Pambula
Temporary Common; Pambula Rifle Range;
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Item type:
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Landscape.
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Item group/collection:
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Landscape –
Cultural.
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Item category:
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Historic
Landscape
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Street number:
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Street name:
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Suburb/town:
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Pambula
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Local Government Area:
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Property description:
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Formerly
part of Temporary Common reserved under No.’s I5468 and I5469
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Owner category:
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Federal
Government
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Current use:
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National
Park
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Former use/s:
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Town
Common; rifle range;
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* Refers to the site's inclusion in Schedule 5 of the Local
Environment Plan.
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| Looking down the range from the top of the stop butt, C. 1927.
Image courtesy of Nation Archives of Australia.
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| Looking down the range, C. 1935. Image courtesy of Nation Archives of Australia. |
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| Looking down Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
© Angela George.
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Significance:
Statement of significance:
The old
Pambula Rifle Range is significant as a tangible reminder of the integral and
important role civilian organisations played in national defence strategies
in the past. The Pambula range on the old Common remained in use for a period
of about forty years, and during that time saw men who later served in
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Level of
significance:
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Local
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| Inside view of the mantelet, showing machines, C. 1927. Image courtesy of National Archives of Australia. |
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| Remains of mantelet, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
© Angela George.
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Description:
Designer:
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Builder:
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Physical description:
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A rifle
range, originally 600 yards in length, set in a natural bush setting, now
with thick undergrowth. The range is located approximately 1 km from the
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Physical condition:
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Poor / at
risk. A significant amount of tangible physical evidence of the range’s
existence remains on the site. However, the area both on the range and
surrounding it is extremely overgrown, making access and inspection difficult
and placing remaining tangible physical evidence at serious risk. The firing
mound is difficult to detect and the line of the range was only determinable
through the remaining sections of the telephone airline, timber posts and
brackets. What physical evidence remains is in real and significant danger of
loss in the event of a bushfire, a risk that is exacerbated by the poor
access.
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Construction date/s:
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1921
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Modifications and dates:
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Further comments:
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The 600 yards mound
& shelter shed 1935.
Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
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History:
Historical notes:
The Pambula Rifle Club began life in 1893 as
the Pambula Civilian Rifle Club with one dozen rifles issued by the Military
Staff Office. In July a code of rules was adopted and after ammunition had
been received target practice commenced on a range then located near the race
course on the old town Recreation Reserve (now Panboola).
Two years later the club was transformed into
a Volunteer Reserve Corps and in November that year Lieutenant Bradbury
visited Pambula for the purpose of enrolling members. At the first such
event, 17 individuals were accepted. The regulations which stated that men
had take the oath of allegiance, be of good physique, not less than five foot
six inches in height, with a chest measurement of not less than 34 inches,
and pass a medical test indicate the military origins of these organisations.
The NSW Rifle Association, under whose
auspices the Pambula Club was established, was constituted as part of the
Defence Act, a reminder of the days when the nation’s security relied on
civilian volunteers. Regarded as good preparation for this purpose, target
shooting quickly became a popular and patriotic sporting past time and even
the smallest of country towns maintained a range.
By 1899, Pambula’s organisation had folded,
but in 1903, a meeting was held at the Club Hotel for the purpose of
reforming the Pambula Civilian Rifle Club. Almost 30 names were submitted
with more joining soon after. In May 1904, a notice appeared in the
Government Gazette announcing that formation of the Pambula Civilian Rifle
had been approved.
This was followed in 1907 by the raising of a
troop of the Australia Light Horse, based in Pambula.
In 1912, due to their inability to pay
associated rent, the local Rifle Club transferred responsibility for their
range on the recreation reserve to the military branch of the Department
Defence. It remained under their control until 1919, when the Defence
Department decided, due to the fact that “Military Units have not used this
Range for some four or five years…”, the facility should be transferred back
to the Pambula Rifle Club. The land upon which the range was located was said
to be “…unsuitably placed on swampy ground subject to inundation…” The range
was also in a “…dilapidated condition…” with “…no stop-butt and every bullet
flies across a distance of about 900 yards to the forest and high ground
beyond…cattle had been injured by stray bullets…every shot is allowed to
ricochet in any direction…”
After inspecting the range, Captain Grover of
the Rifle Clubs Branch proposed that it be relocated, and after consideration
of a number of sites, the Trustees of the Pambula Temporary Common were
approached to secure a portion of that reserve for the new facility. In May
1919 it was reported that “A suitable fresh site for the Pambula Rifle Range
has been inspected by the Inspector of Rifle Ranges and steps will be taken
immediately to secure tenure and subsequently reconstruct the range
thereon…”. A 1920 memo reported that “The fresh site for the range is held
under ten years license from
Members of the local club indicated their
willingness to do the land clearing, but, as very little material on the old
range was of use for the new facility, asked for financial assistance with
regards to the expense of erecting the mantlet, stop-butt and other necessary
infrastructure. It was recommended that cost of reconstruction of the range
should be “…principally borne…” by the Department from the Vote ‘Grants to
Rifle Clubs for Ranges”.
Initially it was planned to continue using
the old recreation reserve range until the new facility was established, but
this was not to be. In March 1920, Mr. D. Buckett, Captain of the Pambula
Rifle Club, wrote to the Supervisor of Rifle Clubs that “…a few days ago we
received a notice from the Trustees of the Pambula Recreation Reserve to the
effect that the lease of the old Rifle Range was cancelled and to stop firing
on the range immediately. It came as a surprise to us as we were informed
that we would be able to use the range until the new range was opened…”
This created a sense of urgency with regard
to completion of the new ground, and it was reported in May 1920 that “The
Club advised…that they were clearing the fresh site and were anxious to get
on with the reconstruction of the range.” In June 1920 it was stated that
“Pambula Rifle Club…have cleared the range and are waiting a favourable
opportunity to burn the timber...” but by December, with little progress
having been made, Mr Buckett reported “…the club has been practically dormant
for some considerable time, and further the present time being the flush of
the season and most of the members being dairy farmers, it is practically
impossible for many of them to assist in the work…”
In January the following year, Mr. Buckett
was informed that “…I have to advise that it will not be possible to arrange
the reconstruction of your range immediately…” but by the 27th of
that month it was stated that Pambula’s Rifle Range “…is now under
construction. Warrant Office Sallery commenced this work after completing
Bega.” February saw the Voice report “Men are busily engaged in removing the
old rifle butts onto the new range selected some months ago on the common.”
In March Mr Buckett reported that the range
had been completed, and the same month an Australian Military Forces
equipment report for Rifle Club No 211 was submitted showing that ranges were
available from 100 to 600 yards, with two target machines having been
erected. On
In July 1920 the Commandant of the 2nd
Military District, under whose authority the Pambula range fell, had asked
“…that authority may be given for this work to be carried out at Department
expense in view of the fact that when this range was taken over by the
Military Department, it was on good working order and since that time has
been allowed to get in a very bad condition…” However, it would appear that a
significant proportion of the associated costs still fell to the local club,
and it was commented in early March 1921 that “…the cost of construction
appears to have been considerably under-estimated…”. The same month, Mr
Buckett wrote “I beg to make application for a Special Grant of £15 to defray
part of the cost of construction of the new Rifle Range at Pambula…”
According to him, club members had undertaken the felling and clearing of the
range, as well as giving voluntary assistance in the construction work.
In 1927, the local range was inspected by
Captain Grover and the same year, work was undertaken to stabilise the firing
platform at the 600 yards firing point to overcome its tendency to vibrate.
That year the Pambula Rifle Club was described as “…a live one and is in the
hands of efficient officers. There are some very good shots amongst the
members, the club is well known as respected along the
Rifle Club training was being hailed as “a
national sport and a national necessity” by the 1930’s, and in 1932, Dr
Lindon Wing was elected President of the Pambula club. That year he donated a
new model rifle as a trophy to be competed for by local members. In 1936,
with Dr Wing’s departure from the district imminent, the local paper
announced that “…all members are requested to be present early…” at the
club’s February shoot to enable a presentation to be made to the popular club
member. Even after his departure, Dr Wing remained interested in the success
of the club, and that year presented a cup valued at £10 to the club. In
1937, following the death of member W. G. Henderson, the club established the
W. G. Henderson Memorial Cup, and Dr Wing again assisted, sending a cheque
towards the prize.
The lease agreement between the Trustees of
the Pambula Temporary Common and the Commonwealth of Australia for the
property included in the Pambula Rifle Range was renewed in 1934, 1939, 1945
and 1947.
Access to the range was always problematic
due to the nature of the surrounding landscape. In 1935, a grant of “…an
amount not exceeding £25…” was secured to meet part of the costs associated
with constructing a log bridge and approaches on the access roadway to the
range, as well as effecting repairs to the stop-butt, work which was
completed by July that year.
In July 1945, it was reported that the range
was also being used by a detachment of the Voluntary Defence Corps and in
1949 a £19 grant was allocated for repairs to the mantlet and stop-butt.
It is
uncertain at this stage when the rifle club ceased to function, but it is
known that it was still in operation in 1957 and probably continued to
function into the late 1960’s.
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| Bush pole with porcelain insulator and aerial telephone line, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
© Angela George.
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| Remains of aerial telephone line cross arm, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006. © Angela George. |
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| Remains of bush pole with aerial telephone line & porcelain insulator, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006. © Angela George. |
Themes:
Australian theme:
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Local theme:
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3:
Developing local, regional and national economies.
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Agriculture
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3:
Developing local, regional and national economies.
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Environment
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3:
Developing local, regional and national economies.
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Forestry
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3:
Developing local, regional and national economies.
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Pastoralism
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4: Building
settlements, towns and cities.
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Land tenure
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7:
Governing
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Defence
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8:
Developing
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Social institutions
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8:
Developing
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Sport
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| Mantelet & stop butt, 1935. Club members pictured include Mr Smith (Captain), Mr Henderson (Secretary) & Dr Wing. Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. |
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| Stop butt in 1935. Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. |
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| Remains of stop butt, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
© Angela George.
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| Remains of stop butt, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
© Angela George.
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Application criteria:
Historical significance
SHR criteria (a)
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Historical association significance
SHR criteria (b)
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Aesthetic significance
SHR criteria (c)
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Technical / Research significance
SHR criteria (e)
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Rarity
SHR criteria (f)
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Representativeness
SHR criteria (g)
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Integrity:
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| Target trench showing timber frames ready for targets, 1935. Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. |
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| Looking towards remains of target trench, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006. © Angela George. |
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| Remains of target mounts and trench, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006. © Angela George. |
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| Remains of target mounts, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006. © Angela George. |
Heritage Listings:
Information
sources / bibliography :
George, Allan, pers. comm.
Hart, Denis, pers. comm.
NAA, Series – MT 1461/1; item 31/1073/21
Pambula Voice
Pambula – Rifle Range Papers,
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Author and date:
© Angela
George. All rights reserved.
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2006.
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