Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

4th and 5th Advanced Ammunition Depots - WW2

5 Advanced Ammunition Depot (5 AAD) was based at Mataranka in the Northern Territory for most of the Pacific War.  It was established to supply forward elements in and around Darwin with ammunition resupply and technical support.

It was commanded from Keswick Barracks, in Adelaide South Australia. Keswick (more specifically the adjacent Wayville Showgrounds) was also the headquarters for 4 Advanced Ammunition Depot (4 AAD).

5th AAD at Mataranka was located about 3 kilometres from the Sturt Highway and the town of Mataranka.

On 24 June 1942, 4 AAD Headquarters were moved from the Wayville Showgrounds to Terowie, South Australia and later to Gladstone, in South Australia.  

By March 1945 as it was obvious the war was drawing to a closeand the level of operational activity at Advanced Ammunition Depots on mainland Australia, as much materiel as possible was being returned to the Munitions Factories in suburban Adelaide, South Australia. 

Gladstone remained a a major Defence Ammunition depot for many years post WW2.