Ever wonder what goes on behind a closed door? Come on I bet you have. This door is one that leads to a little bit of pioneer past in the Cairns area. The Magazine Detonator Shed, of the old Explosives Reserve. A mining boom in the 1890’s, had over 3,000 cases of explosives land in Cairns each year. The Harbour Master was responsible for the well being of these little treasures. It did get to the stage the barge on the inlet just couldn’t hold any more. So the government claimed land in Stratford as an Explosive Reserve in 1900. It was still close to port and trains, to ship the explosives to the mines; mainly Mount Molloy, Chillagoe and Mareeba. In WWII, nineteen Australian military guarded the Magazine shed for explosives. Could you image what was happening then? So next time you pass an old door just think about what went on behind it in years gone by!
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