In the Annual Report printed by the Munitions Supply Board for the period 1 July 1923-30 June 1924 it was stated that the barracks and ground at Maribyrnong which were no longer required for military purposes had been taken over from the Military Board (at a valuation of 48,000 pounds) for use as Factory Administrative Offices and an Ordnance Factory. Two brick stable buildings were adapted for a shell production unit and a tool room, and other buildings were used as stores and tradesman's shops.  During the year a contract was let for erection of workshops to produce guns and carriages, the building to be of steel, and to consist of two bays 350 feet long by 100 feet wide, for a contract price of 32,300 pounds. This was constructed during 1925, and during 1926 and 1927 plant was installed. 

The first Engineer in Charge was Mr F.C. Spiller who resigned in May 1925. Mr N.K.S. Brodribb, a member of the Munitions Supply Board, was appointed acting Manager, and Messrs. S.F. Daley and M.M. O'Loughlin Assistant Engineers.

The first unit of the Ordnance Factory to be ready for manufacturing was the experimental shell shop which was equipped during 1924 with 40 reconditioned machines from the British Munitions plant to produce 18-pdr. High Explosive shell bodies. On 23 October 1924 the Munitions Supply Board considered a proposal, approved by the Minister a few days later, to construct a forge shop.  The Factory was intended to produce guns and shells for peacetime requirements only, but in case of war it would serve the additional purpose of having trained staff in manufacturing techniques, providing a model for other ordnance factories should they be needed, and being used as a training centre for commercial factories should these need to be converted to war purposes.  By 1930 a well equipped forge, and a woodworking and electrical shop had been constructed, and the factory was capable of producing guns, shells, gun carriages and military vehicles. During 1930 and 1931 replacement parts were produced for commercial motor vehicle companies which caused some debate with Chambers of Commerce. In 1931 Mr Daley  resigned to join the staff of General Motors; and Mr O'Loughlin was  appointed Manager in 1937, having been acting Manager for several years.

By 30 June 1937, 695 people were employed at the Ordnance Factory, an increase of 176 during the year. Two years later the number employed had risen to 1325, including 51 women. The quality and variety of products were impressive, but the quantity caused concern, and in 1937 additional plant was imported from Germany, Great Britain, U.S.A. and Canada. It was decided in that year to commence manufacture of the more powerful 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun, some of which were mounted in Hyde Park during the war to defend London against German air attack. In 1939 338,120 pounds worth of goods were sold to the Royal Australian Navy, Commonwealth Military Forces, Royal Australian Air Force, New Zealand Government and other authorities.  Further expansion followed during the 1939-1945 War when equipment was manufactured to meet wartime requirements for the services. Orders from the army MGO (Master-General of the Ordnance) for ordnance equipment were handled by the Production Orders and Statistics Branch within the Department of Munitions. This Branch allocated the work between government munitions establishments and production
Directorates. Orders on the government factories were placed and controlled by the Controller, Production Orders and Statistics.
 
After the war production was scaled down, but the factory continued to manufacture heavy ordnance equipment, large turbine gears, steel shell bodies, trailers, etc.  By 1959, besides conventional heavy equipment, motors for guided missiles were being manufactured, this requiring the development of difficult techniques and production to close tolerances. Special welding and heat treatment techniques were evolved to manufacture these motors from high-tensile steel. This variety in goods produced continued, and in 1976 guns, projectiles, heavy forgings, and rocket motor components were being manufactured.

Organisation: In 1947 the factory was divided into several sections, under the overall charge of a Divisional Manager and a Works Manager. The Works were divided into two sections: each under the direction of an Assistant Works Manager, the first consisting of Machine Shops Nos. 1 and 2, Tool Room, Apprentice Training, Forge, and Heat Treatment and Metallurgical; the other consisting of Wood, Plate, Projectile Nos, 1 and 2, Sheetmetal, Outworks and Millwright sub-sections. In addition there was an Electrical Engineering section and a Planning Department responsible to the Divisional Manager.

Sources:
The Federal Guide 1924 Commonwealth of Australia Year Book 1924, p. 596; 1930, p. 418
Commonwealth Parliamentary Papers Session 1925, vol. II p. 62;  Munitions Supply Board. Annual Report 1 July 1923-30 June 1924, p. 24.
Supply 1963, p. 22.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Papers, Session 1923-1924, vol. IV pp. 419;  Report from the Joint Committee of Public Accounts upon the  Expenditure on Munitions Supply. 9 July 1924.
 
On 4 May 1989, a Government owned company, Australian Defence Industries Pty Ltd was created.  This new company encompasses eleven former establishments producing munitions, ordnance, and military clothing which were previously operated by the Office of Defence Production.

West Road, Maribyrnong, Vic

Superior agency unregistered

13 Apr 1960-   1972: Board of Management for Production
    by 1972- ? 1989: Production Board