Cootamundra World War II Fuel Depot Site (former No.3 AIFD)

Item details


Name of item:	Cootamundra World War II Fuel Depot Site (former No.3 AIFD)
Other name/s:	Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot No.3, IAFD No.3, former World War II RAAF base, Petrol tanks, Caltex Service Station
Type of item:	Landscape
Group/Collection:	Landscape - Cultural
Category:	Defence Base Air Force
Primary address:	219 Sutton Street, Cootamundra, NSW 2590
Parish:	Cootamundra
County:	Harden
Local govt. area:	Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Young
Hectares (approx):	4.37

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	112		DP	136005

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
219 Sutton Street	Cootamundra	Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional	Cootamundra	Harden	Primary Address
219 Olympic Highway	Cootamundra	Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional	Cootamundra	Harden	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd	Private
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council	Local Government
former Cootamundra Shire Council	Local Government	06 Aug 14

Statement of significance:


	Cootamundra’s World War II Fuel Depot Site (former No. 3 Aviation Inland Fuel Depot or No.3 AIFD) is of state significance as a representative mid-twentieth century industrial site and an intact remnant of an Australia-wide network of World War II technical infrastructure. Because of its strategic location on the railway line nearly mid-way between Sydney and Melbourne, Cootamundra became the first of 11 'safe inland locations' in NSW chosen for the bulk storage of aviation fuel during World War II. The war-time construction and functioning of the Cootamundra No.3 IAFD in stocking and distributing aviation fuel to the Cootamundra aerodrome and no.1 Air Observer’s School is a minor but integral aspect of the defence history of New South Wales and Australia. The site with its five fuel tanks, the Fuel Pump House, the Foam House, pipelines and fencing was used for its intended purpose only for a short period in 1942 but then was acquired by Ampol after the war and put into in commercial use by oil companies until 1995. The site is likely to have state research potential for maintaining an intact layout and structures that have been minimally modified. The built structures retain most of their original fabric and have the potential to improve our understanding of the technical knowledge and factors involved in the mid-twentieth century storage of aviation fuel as well as issues associated with the long-term use and conservation of such structures.
	Date significance updated: 13 Nov 14
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1941-1943
Physical description:	Cootamundra is located 380 km from Sydney in the South West Slopes of western NSW's Riverina region, about 40 km north of Gundagai and the Murrumbidgee River. Its railway station is located on the main railway line that links Sydney and Melbourne. The Cootamundra World War II Fuel Depot Site is situated beside the Olympic Highway/ Sutton Street at the southern end of the Cootamundra township, just north of Cootamundry Creek and the railway line. (Rappoport, 2011, p52). The aerodrome it serviced is on the northern side of the township and during World War II fuel was probably transported there by truck. The SHR boundary of the site follows the existing cadastral allotment boundary (Lot 112 DP 136005 soon to become Lot 12 DP 85690) and encloses 4.4 hectares of land. The lot is enclosed by a barbed wire fence, much of which dates from World War II (Rappoport, 2011, p50) The site elements surviving from World War II include five large aviation fuel tanks, the foam house, fuel pump house and steel pipes criss-crossing the site. The five steel fuel storage tanks are the key elements and remain in fair condition. They consist of a single above-ground steel tank (no.1), two steel and brick-veneer above-ground tanks (nos 2 and 3) and two large concrete and steel tanks covered by earthen mounds (nos 4 and 5) (National Archives plan of site 1946 in Rappoport, 2011, p59). Features that have been removed include the original guard house, sentry box and tool shed. (Rappoport, 2011, p2, p52). A rail siding platform on the other side of Sutton Street was a critical part of the design of the site, linking it to the railway between Sydney and Melbourne. Remnants of this rail siding are currently being demolished as part of the remediation of the site, and are not included in this SHR listing. Some of the pipework between the site and the rail siding will remain in place, for example, beside the bridge crossing the creek, and are considered significant but are not included in this listing curtilage. Post war fuel infrastructure constructed by Ampol including above ground and underground tanks and buildings were located at the southern end of the site near Sutton Street. These are currently being demolished as part of remediation works in preparation for transferring the site to Cootamundra Council. None of the post-war structures are considered significant to this listing. FIVE FUEL TANKS Summaries of the detailed descriptions of the fuel tanks contained in the 1946 Handover-Takeover certificate provided by the Commonwealth Government when transferring the site to AMPOL, as reported in Paul Rappoport's CMP for the site commissioned by Caltex in 2011, are given below. (NAA: A705, 171/105/100 quoted by Rappoport, 2011, p2, p59-75) Fuel Tank No.1 The capacity of fuel tank No.1 is 120,000 gallons (546,000 litres). It measures 29' 5" (9.0 m) diameter and is 29' 4" tall (9.0 m) [this figure may be incorrect as the tank appears to be taller than it is wide]. The tank is constructed of welded steel plate with a cork lagged cone roof and is seated on a sand-filled concrete circular foundation. It is further surrounded by a high earthen embankment, which was likely designed to contain leaks but from which rain water could be drained via a 6" (13 cm) drain pipe. The steel tank appears to be complete, in a good condition and without any damage to its external surface. (Rappoport, 2011, p61-64) Fuel Tank No.2 The capacity of fuel tank No.2 is 120,000 gallons (546,000 litres). The tank measures 29.5' (9.0 m) diameter and is 29'4" (9.0 m) in height [again the height figure appears questionable, especially when compared against the 1941 photo of Tank 2 being installed, Image no.X]. The tank is constructed of welded mild steel plate with cork lagged cone roof, positioned on a foundation of sand filled concrete. The tank is encased in brick work, on which the name "Ampol" has been painted. The valves and manholes around the base of the tank are protected by brick housing. The tank is seated in an excavated compound with earth banked up to a height of 4' (1.22 m) on its lower side, which was likely designed to contain leaks but from which rain water could be drained via a 6" (13 cm) drain pipe. There is a steel stairway to the top of the tank consisting of two straight sections 19' (5.79 m) long and 2' (61 cm) wide with handrails and landing with handrails. The brick enclosure of the tank appeared to be in a good condition. It is unclear if the steel tank within the brick casing is in a good condition. (Rappoport, 2011, p65) Fuel Tank No.3 The fuel tank No.3 was designed with a capacity of 40,000 gallons (182,000 litres). This tank served as the mixing tank. The tank has a diameter of 19'8" (6.0 m) and a height of 24'4" (7.4 m), and is constructed of welded mild steel plate with cork lagged cone roof on a circular foundation of a sand filled concrete. The tank is encased in brick-work, on which the word "Ampol" has been painted. The tank is seated in an excavated compound with earth banked up around it, which was likely designed to contain leaks but from which rain water could be drained via a 6" (13 cm) drain pipe. A steel stairway is installed to the top of the tank. The brick enclosure of the tank appears to be in a good condition. It is unclear if the steel tank within the brick casing is in a good condition. (Rappoport, 2011, p69) Fuel Tanks No.4 and No.5 The Fuel Tanks No.4 and No.5 were built in a second stage of construction of the No.3 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot at Cootamundra following the Japanese attack on Pearly Harbour on 7 December 1941. Completed by 1944, the two tanks were identical in their specifications and have a capacity of 300,000 gallons (1,364,000 litres) each. They were both installed well into the ground and were camouflaged by the construction of an earthen mound 2.5' (76 cm) thick over each one. They measure 58' (17.68 m) in diameter and 19.5' (5.94 m) in height. The tanks are of concrete construction lined with 0.25" (0.6 cm) mild steel plate. Each tank has a concrete tunnel approach constructed of 6" (15 cm) reinforced concrete which is 24' (7.32 m) long, 6' (1.83 m) high and 4' (1.22 m) wide.. They were both fitted with extensive water pipes and foam pipes. OTHER ASSOCIATED BUILT ELEMENTS Fuel Pump House This includes the Fuel Pump House and the hose exchange pit. The Fuel Pump House is a small brick structure measuring 12' (3.66 m) by 8' (2.44 m). The walls are made of brick and it has a C.A.S. roof on hardwood frame and concrete floor (NAA: A70S, 171/105/100). (Rappoport, 2011. P76) The Ethyl Blending Pit measured 12' x 12' (3.66 m x 3.66 m). The walls had 2" (5 cm) mesh chain wire on hardwood frame with fibrolite spouting and down pipe. The floor was made of concrete. (NAA: A70S, 171/105/100). There was also a Hose Exchange pit which measured 12' x 12' x 3' (3.66 m x 3.66m x 0.91 m) of 6" concrete with 18' x 18' (5.49 m x 5.49 m) C.A.S. skiIIion roof on hardwood frame and P.G.I spouting and down pipe. This formed an annexe to the pump house (NAA: A70S, 171/105/100). (Rappoport, 2011, pp76-78) Foam House The Foam House measures 32' (9.75 m) x 20' (6.1 m). The walls are of double brick and concrete filled. The walls are 13" (33 cm) thick. One section of the foam house measuring 20' (6.1 m) x 10' (3.05 m) comprises of the pump house with concrete floor and roof. This section was provided with night latch and sliding 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) glass peep windows. (NAA: A70S, 171/105/100). A 10,000 gallon (45,460 litre) rectangular water tank (18.75' x 14' 7" x 6') (5.72 m x 4.45 m x 1.83 m) was provided for water supply to the foam plant. This was connected to water supply by 1" (2.5 cm) pipe and ball cock. Foam was directed to a manifold located on the wall of the generator plant and thence to various tanks and hydrants by means of lever operated quick action valves (NAA: A70S, 171/105/100). (Rappoport, 2011, p78-80) Ethyl Drum Storage The drum storage has probably been replaced with another structure (Rappoport, 2011, p79) Filling Platform and Shed A Drum Filling Platform (55' x 20') (16.76 m x 6.1 m) and a Drum Filling Shed (20' x 12') (6.1 m x 3.66 m) were present at the handover in 1946 but have since been replaced (Rappoport, 2011. P80) Other elements associated with the site include: Pipelines: Lengths of pipeline are found throughout the site. (Rappoport, 2011, p84) Fire Hose Locations: Five fire hose boxes are noted in the early site plan of 1946. Some can still be found at various parts of the site, however, these are not the original boxes which were of timber construction. The metal boxes present on the site, which probably replaced the original timber boxes, are now empty. They are in a fair condition. (Rappoport, 2011, pp 85-87) Bulk Road Vehicle filling points: Bulk road vehicle filling points were marked on the 1946 site plan. The remains of the equipment are in a completely ruined condition. The concrete base on the ground appears to be in a fairly intact. (Rappoport, 2011, pp 87-88) Railway siding (off site in nearby Lot 7019 DP 1075146): A railway siding was constructed to service the Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots No.3 Site with rail tank car filling points. Rappoport's CMP described it as 'an integral part of the Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots site as it was where rail tankers were filled with fuel from the site. The rail siding platform (20' X 15') had 4' x 5" hardwood posts set in concrete, to a total length of 112' (34.14 m). Stays, bearers, decking, buffer beam and bolts were provided to complete the structure' (Rappoport 2011, p52, p89). Located on the other side of the railway line, about 100 metres south west of the entrance gate on Sutton Street, the rail siding site in 2014 retained few remnants of the original structure - some pipework, concrete drainage, sump and railway sleepers. This site has been assessed as being heavily contaminated and it is undergoing remediation which will remove all remaining remnants. Some photographic recording of the remains of the site has been undertaken. The following 1940s fuel infrastructure has also been removed from the site: One 60kL heating oil AST on concrete slab (labelled as T8); One suspected former AST (contents unknown; labelled as T9); and *One 55 - 80kL diesel AST on concrete slab (labelled as T11). Fuel storage infrastructure constructed by Ampol in the post-war period near Sutton Street if not considered significant and is being removed from the site as part of the remediation works.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The site has been disused since 1995 when Caltex closed it down. The key original elements built during World War II - notably the fuel tanks - remain intact and in fair to good condition. Remediation and de-contamination is being carried out on the site before it is transferred to Cootamundra Council.
	Date condition updated:15 Sep 14
Modifications and dates:	Post war additions to the site such as underground petroleum storage tanks, tool shed, drum storage shed and platform as well as any asbestos materials have been removed in June 2013 during land remediation works carried out by Caltex Australia prior to disposal. Soil contamination remediation work undertaken in 2014. Demolitions and remediation works have been undertaken and approved under Council Development Consent DA13-047.


Current use:	Site not in use since 1995. In 2014 soil contamination remediation works undertaken under Development Consent DA13-047 in preparation to convert the site into a public park with heritage features.
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm paddock, aerodrome, World War II aviation fuel depot. Post war commercial fuel depot.

History

Historical notes:

ABORIGINAL LAND
The traditional owners of Cootamundra are the Wiradjuri, for whom the Murrumbidgee River was a plentiful source of shellfish and fish. Plants, tubers and nuts of the country between the major rivers supplied seasonal food. Larger game such as possums, kangaroos and emus were captured by groups of hunters to make up a varied and nutritious diet. (Heritage Branch, 1996, p132).

The dislocation by European colonists of normal Aboriginal routines of life was increasingly severe from the 1830s and the new diseases took a terrible toll. There were predictable problems over cattle. A series of incidents along the Murrumbidgee near Narrandera c1840 have been called the 'Wiradjuri wars'. The end result was that the Wiradjuri were deprived of their riverine territory and driven to the hills or to local employment on the stations. Men worked as cattlemen, general hands, sheep-shearers and flour grinders, and women as domestic servants and child carers. Ultimately many Wiradjuri people ended up living in the towns established to service those who had supplanted them. By the late nineteenth century few of the surviving Wiradjuri people lived a traditional life. The numerous towns of the area, which became closely settled with irrigation schemes during the twentieth century, contained an increasing Aboriginal population. Today in the region, most Wiradjuri people live in Narrandera and Griffith, with significant numbers in Wagga Wagga, Leeton and Tumut and smaller communities in Junee, Harden, Young and Cootamundra (Heritage Branch, 1996, p132-133).

The name Cootamundra was likely derived from the Wiradjuri word guudhamang for 'turtle', as the town is aroudn a low-lying marshland, which is ideal turtle habitat (Cootamundra Heritage Centre & Visitor Information Centre, 2020, 1).

COLONISATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF COOTAMUNDRA
In 1829 the first British explorer Charles Sturt ventured into the Murrumbidgee Valley. Within 15 years most of the water frontages along the Murrumbidgee were occupied by pastoralists. John Hurley and Patrick Fennell obtained permissions to pasture stock on the Coramundra Run in the 1830s, which by 1849 had grown to 50,000 acres with an estimated grazing capacity of 600 cattle and 3000 sheep (Caskie 2000, 1; CLHS 2008). Meat prices soared in the 1850s and the Murrumbidgee stations 'became a vast fattening paddock'.

Cootamundry was surveyed and a plan of the proposed village was drawn up by surveyor P. Adams in 1861 on a site that was originally the horse paddock of John Hurley's station. The first town lots were sold in 1862. Like many other towns in the Riverina, Cootamundra's population increased with the brief gold rush of the 1860s. By 1866, the village had a population of 100, a post office, a police station and two hotels. The succeeding decades saw the triumph of sheep over cattle particularly on the saltbush plains at the western end of the region. The corollary of this pastoral expansion was the clearing of much of the bush, the sinking of wells, the building of dams for stock and the systematic fencing of paddocks. (Heritage Branch, 1996, p133-5, Wikipedia, 'Cootamundra').

The rail network helped in the growth of farming industries. Cootamundra's train station, linking into the main southern railway that links Sydney and Melbourne, opened in 1877. The development of Cootamundra was slow and steady and it was gazetted on May 20, 1884 as a municipality of 3010 acres. The town was finally gazetted as Cootamundra in 1952, changed from the official name of Cootamundry by which it had been known since 1860. The locals had always used the name Cootamundra (CLHS 2008). It became a quiet yet prosperous agricultural community. Today, Cootamundra has a population of around 7500 in the whole shire with a further 2000 in the surrounding district. (CSC 2009). (Rappoport, 2011, p22-23).

ABORIGINAL LAND
The traditional owners of Cootamundra are the Wiradjuri, for whom the Murrumbidgee River was a plentiful source of shellfish and fish. Plants, tubers and nuts of the country between the major rivers supplied seasonal food. Larger game such as possums, kangaroos and emus were captured by groups of hunters to make up a varied and nutritious diet. (Heritage Branch, 1996, p132).

The dislocation by European colonists of normal Aboriginal routines of life was increasingly severe from the 1830s and the new diseases took a terrible toll. There were predictable problems over cattle. A series of incidents along the Murrumbidgee near Narrandera c1840 have been called the 'Wiradjuri wars'. The end result was that the Wiradjuri were deprived of their riverine territory and driven to the hills or to local employment on the stations. Men worked as cattlemen, general hands, sheep-shearers and flour grinders, and women as domestic servants and child carers. Ultimately many Wiradjuri people ended up living in the towns established to service those who had supplanted them. By the late nineteenth century few of the surviving Wiradjuri people lived a traditional life. The numerous towns of the area, which became closely settled with irrigation schemes during the twentieth century, contained an increasing Aboriginal population. Today in the region, most Wiradjuri people live in Narrandera and Griffith, with significant numbers in Wagga Wagga, Leeton and Tumut and smaller communities in Junee, Harden, Young and Cootamundra (Heritage Branch, 1996, p132-133).

The name Cootamundra was likely derived from the Wiradjuri word guudhamang for 'turtle', as the town is aroudn a low-lying marshland, which is ideal turtle habitat (Cootamundra Heritage Centre & Visitor Information Centre, 2020, 1).

COLONISATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF COOTAMUNDRA
In 1829 the first British explorer Charles Sturt ventured into the Murrumbidgee Valley. Within 15 years most of the water frontages along the Murrumbidgee were occupied by pastoralists. John Hurley and Patrick Fennell obtained permissions to pasture stock on the Coramundra Run in the 1830s, which by 1849 had grown to 50,000 acres with an estimated grazing capacity of 600 cattle and 3000 sheep (Caskie 2000, 1; CLHS 2008). Meat prices soared in the 1850s and the Murrumbidgee stations 'became a vast fattening paddock'.

Cootamundry was surveyed and a plan of the proposed village was drawn up by surveyor P. Adams in 1861 on a site that was originally the horse paddock of John Hurley's station. The first town lots were sold in 1862. Like many other towns in the Riverina, Cootamundra's population increased with the brief gold rush of the 1860s. By 1866, the village had a population of 100, a post office, a police station and two hotels. The succeeding decades saw the triumph of sheep over cattle particularly on the saltbush plains at the western end of the region. The corollary of this pastoral expansion was the clearing of much of the bush, the sinking of wells, the building of dams for stock and the systematic fencing of paddocks. (Heritage Branch, 1996, p133-5, Wikipedia, 'Cootamundra').

The rail network helped in the growth of farming industries. Cootamundra's train station, linking into the main southern railway that links Sydney and Melbourne, opened in 1877. The development of Cootamundra was slow and steady and it was gazetted on May 20, 1884 as a municipality of 3010 acres. The town was finally gazetted as Cootamundra in 1952, changed from the official name of Cootamundry by which it had been known since 1860. The locals had always used the name Cootamundra (CLHS 2008). It became a quiet yet prosperous agricultural community. Today, Cootamundra has a population of around 7500 in the whole shire with a further 2000 in the surrounding district. (CSC 2009). (Rappoport, 2011, p22-23).

COOTAMUNDRA EARLY AVIATION HISTORY
The aviation history of Cootamundra began in 1917 when Mr W.J. Stutt landed in a paddock near Cootamundra Showground in his Curtiss biplane during a flight that established a long-distance record for Australia:
"Pilot Stutt's plane arrived at Cootamundra well up to time at 10.10. A good landing was effected in an open paddock next to the showground and cheers were given. Lieut. Stutt said the trip had been rough. Rain fell so heavily much of the way from Wangaratta that it chipped the phlange of the propeller, which needed some little attention. The driver and pilot left for refreshments while the machine was being replenished with oil and benzene. A big crowd collected. At 11.30 the aeroplane rose, and headed for Sydney. . . . [He] shaped his course by the railway line northward. Passing over Goulburn at 12.40 Pilot Stutt kept to the route until thunderstorms over Moss Vale met him and drove him out to sea. He made back to Picton, however, and continued with fairly good weather . . ." (Windsor and Richmond Gazette Friday 16 November 1917)

By 1921 the strategic advantage of Cootamundra's location about mid-way between Sydney and Melbourne led to the Australian Government purchasing 75 acres of Quinlan's paddock on the northern edge of the town, making Cootamundra one of NSW's earliest rural aerodromes (Dannecker 1976, 4-8, quoted in Rappoport, 2011, p37-38). With the implementation of an airmail service between Australia and Britain, Cootamundra was chosen as the southern terminus. The airfield was used as a base for airmail contracts temporarily from 1934 by Butler Air Transport, providing connection to QANTAS services between Brisbane and Darwin. However the company relocated its base to Sydney when the airmail contract was withdrawn in 1938 (Wikipedia "Cootamundra Airport")

WORLD WAR II AND AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA
When Australia entered World War II in September 1939 on the side of Great Britain, the war was far distant in Europe. However Australia soon became part of an international scheme to train pilots and aircrew across the British Empire. Known as the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), the scheme was instrumental in up-skilling many of the airmen who fought in Europe, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. (Robertson & Hindmarsh, Vol.2, 41-4).

A full range of training aerodromes had to be created to implement the scheme, which included initial training schools, elementary flying training schools, service flying training school and the air observers' schools. By the late 1930s the presence of the well-established aviation facilities at Cootamundra and its convenient location on the Sydney Melbourne railway line made it ideal for the use of the aerodrome as a military base and EATS training facility. (Brew 2001: 21-24 quoted in Rappoport, 2011, p24). Gough Whitlam, later Prime Minister of Australia 1972-75, received navigation training at the No.1 Air Observer's School at Cootamundra for several months in late 1942 (Hocking, 2008, p88).

Aerodromes were also needed for training, maintenance and defence to meet the needs of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Airfields were redeveloped across NSW including Cootamundra as well as Mascot, Narromine, Tamworth, Narrandera, Temora, Uranquinty, Deniliquin, Parkes, Camden, Evans Head, Wagga Wagga. By 1940 the Royal Australian Air Force had completely taken over the control of the Cootamundra aerodrome (Dannecker 1976: 22) and Squadron Numbers 60 and 73 operated from the base.

A direction finding station was also built at Cootamundra to service the radio communications system. This system was considered vital in the detection of enemy raiders and for providing data in battle situations.

The presence of the No.1 Air Observer's School, the Cootamundra aerodrome, the convenient location on the Sydney-Melbourne railway line and its safe location inland made Cootamundra an ideal choice for locating the No.3 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD), now known as the Cootamundra World War II Fuel Depot Site.

WORLD WAR II, COOTAMUNDRA AND THE INLAND FUEL DEPOTS
A major issue servicing the Australian air force during World War II was the provision and distribution of aviation fuel. Transport was difficult due to the large distances involved and the diversity of Australia's railway gauges. Existing storage facilities were small and located only in New South Wales and Victoria, making the supply to combat units stationed in the north particularly impractical and difficult. (Rappoport, 2011, p24-5; Kass, date, Vol.2 p117).

An Aviation Fuel Committee was formed with representatives from the Australian and American air forces. Following a war cabinet minute in August 1940 approving an increase in war reserves of aviation fuel, the committee recommended the erection of bulk storage fuel depots in inland locations, safe from attack by sea-borne aircraft. Twelve sites were initially commissioned throughout Australia, chosen on the basis of their proximity to railways, roads and aerodromes, with four of these in NSW: at Cootamundra, Wallerawang, Muswellbrook and Grafton. While originally known as RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) Inland Petrol Depots they were soon renamed Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots (IAFD) (Rappoport, 2011, p25). Cootamundra was the third site to be commissioned nationally and the first in NSW, and became known as No.3 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot.

The committee developed various recommendations for regulating the storage sites. A typical IAFD complex was to consist of standard tanks, a 40,000 gallon(182,000 litres) mixing tank, pumps, pipe lines, ancillary buildings, receiving and despatching points and railway siding. The storage tanks were initially proposed at capacities of 120,000 (546,000 litres) and 200,000 gallons (910,000 litres). For purposes of fire protection, the storage tanks were to be separated by a distance of at least 200' (61 m). The RAAF proposed camouflaging the fuel tanks in case of an air-borne attack. The tanks were to be placed in a 17.5' (5.33 m) excavation, surrounded by a 7.5' (2.29 m) bank to act as a compound to isolate and protect each individual tank in the event of a bomb attack and also permit camouflaging by covering the entire excavation with netting and camouflage material. The fuel depots were to be guarded by an army representative so a guard house was also proposed within each IAFD site to enable 24-hour security. Details for the construction of the original 12 IAFDs were approved by early 1941. The Department of Interior was commissioned to carry out the works. Two Australian petroleum companies were engaged to provide the working drawings. Shell Oil Company was responsible for lAFD No.3 at Cootamundra as well as numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. (Rappoport, 2011, p26).

The site of the No.3 IAFD at Cootamundra was amalgamated from several lots acquired from the NSW State Government, from the Cootamundra Municipal Council and from private individuals. Also included was a council-owned public road and a private road. The site became the property of the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Army. (Rappoport, 2011, pp38-39).

At Cootamundra the construction of the smaller aviation fuel tanks, numbers 1, 2 (with a storage capacity of 120,000 gallons or 546,000 litres each) and the mixing tank number 3 (40,000 gallons or 182,000 litres) was complete by late 1941. Then the Japanese attack on the United States' navy at Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941 considerably escalated the threat of a Japanese attack on Australian soil. From early 1942 the number of inland fuel aviation depots was increased from 12 to 31 and in addition many were considerably expanded in their storage capacity. By early 1944 the aviation fuel depot at Cootamundra had two more, much larger capacity fuel tanks, numbers 4 and 5, each with a storage capacity of 300,000 gallons or 1,364,000 litres. These were also much more thoroughly camouflaged with an earthen embankment completely covering each of them (Rappoport, 2011, p32-34). However neither of these two large tanks was ever actually used to store aviation fuel.

The threat of Japanese invasion rapidly abated during 1944 and the decision was made to close down Cootamundra No. 3 IAFD along with many of the other IAFD sites on the condition that they were to be kept intact and ready for use if necessary. Detailed instructions were provided to empty and clean the fuel storage tanks, remove pressure vacuum relief valves, close down all tank valves and other valves, remove hand wheels and place all the removed items in store. All pumps were to be drained, and bearings to be greased. Bright metal surfaces were required to be coated with rust preventive. Ethyl blenders' clothing was to be aired and replaced in lockers and sprayed with insecticides. Water mains were to be shut, and electric fuses removed. Fire hoses were to be dried and placed in store. The openings of bulk road vehicle filling points from where hoses had been removed were required to be capped or plugged. All these instructions ensured that all buildings were left clean, all equipment cleaned, greased and maintained in working condition and all safety precautions followed to ensure the re-use of the site or any building or equipment when the need arose. ln addition, de-gassing and de-leading of petrol storage tanks were also recommended (Rappoport, 2011, p37).

Following the cessation of hostilities the Cootamundra airfield reverted to civilian use. The aerodrome remains in operation in 2014 (Wikipedia "Cootamundra Airport").

FORMER IAFD SITE SINCE WWII
Following the end of the World War II, the need for bulk storage of fuel in safe locations inland ceased and the Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot sites were sold. The Commonwealth Disposals Commission, working on behalf of the Department of Air sold the No.3 IAFD site at Cootamundra to Australian Motorists Petrol Company Ltd (AMP, which later became Ampol) on 26 June 1947 (Rappoport, 2011, p47).

At the time of the sale, an inventory was made which described the site as including the land, fencing, gates, sand boxes, skidways, water supply and reticulation, drainage, five fuel tanks and 12 buildings. These 12 buildings included the guard house, tool shed, sentry box, foam house, drum filling platform, fuel pump house and hose exchange pit, fuel hose rack, fire hose boxes and Tetra Ethyl drum storage. (Rappoport, 2011, p42-3).

The site continued to be used as a fuel storage depot after the war. The depot site became the property of Caltex in 1995 following the merger of Ampol and Caltex (Rappoport, 2011, p6) and officially closed at the end of that year. The site has been disused since then. The ownership of the site is to be transferred to Cootamundra Shire Council once all required land remediation works have been completed. (Imrie Comparative Analysis, 2014, p40).

BRIEF HISTORY OF AMPOL & CALTEX
Kerosene was used extensively in the mid-nineteenth century and early twentieth century as a fuel for lighting homes and streets. With the advent of the motor car, crude oil came into demand as a fuel. By 1911 petrol surpassed kerosene in sales as the fuel for most vehicles. (Rappoport, 2011, p48).

Between the 1920s and 1950s the Shell Company of Australia and Vacuum Oil Company Australia Pty Ltd were selling petrol through single-brand service stations while Golden Fleece, Independent Oil Industry and Commonwealth Oil Refineries Ltd operated through multiple-brand stations (Arnold 2000). In 1936 Sir William Gaston Walkley (1896-1976) founded the Australian Motorists Petrol Company Limited following bitter disputes over the price of petrol and alleged transfer pricing to limit the tax paid by foreign companies. In 1945, the Alba Petroleum Company (formed in 1933) was merged with the AMP Company, and in 1949, the name was changed to Ampol Petroleum Limited, largely to distinguish the company from minerals explorer Ampolex (Dyster 2002, quoted in Rappoport, 2011, p48).

The first Ampol service station was opened in Military road, Mosman, Sydney in 1952 with the help of California Texas Oil Company (Caltex) and within the next six years 600 new Ampol service stations were opened. During 1959 Ampol expanded by opening a grease plant at Balmain, Sydney and commenced manufacturing tyres and tubes in Somerton, an outer suburb of Melbourne. From 1982 a series of mergers with companies including Total Australia Ltd, Pioneer International Ltd and Solo Operations Ltd in 1990 culminated in May 1995 when Ampol merged with Caltex Australia Ltd and the Caltex Petroleum Corporation of America (Arnold 2000 quoted in Rappoport, 2011, p48-9).

The history of Caltex goes back to 1901 when the Texas Company (Texaco) struck a large deposit of oil. In 1918, it established its own Australian company that traded as Texas Company (Australasia) Limited (Arnold 2000). In the 1950s and 1960s Caltex competed with Ampol in oil product marketing and service stations. Despite their successes both companies were relatively small. Their merger in 1995 made them the largest refiner-marketer in Australia, with a debt at the time of merger amounting to approximately $1.4 billion. The Caltex brand has since subsumed the Ampol brand (Arnold 2000; Caltex 2010, quoted in Rappoport, 2011, p49).

HERITAGE OF THE SITE
A community heritage study jointly commissioned by Cootamundra Shire Council and Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning in 2008 identified the former No.3 IAFD site as significant. The site has been listed as a heritage item in the Cootamundra heritage inventory of the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) of 2013. The inventory provides a brief description of the tanks (Rappoport, 2011, p111).

A military 'Aerodrome Study' undertaken in 2001 for the NSW Heritage Council identified Cootamundra as one of the 'parent' aerodromes across the state which should be considered for state heritage listing (Robertson & Hindmarsh, Vol.2, 41-4, p74, Vol.1, p107).

Cootamundra Council nominated the site for SHR listing in mid-2014.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS - NSW INLAND FUEL DEPOTS
Between the period of 1941 and 1944 a total of 31 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots were established in all states of Australia of which 11 were located in NSW. Chris Imrie, Manager, Development Services at Cootamundra Council, undertook a desktop survey of the NSW former IAFDs to establish their condition in 2014. This established that out of the 11 sites in NSW, there is one other site like Cootamundra which is was used as a fuel depot after World War II and has since been abandoned but remains largely intact (Tamworth). There are two sites that are probably largely intact but in use for grazing (Deniliquin and Goulburn). The location of two sites was not confirmed, so their current condition is unknown (Wallererang and Narromine). The other five sites have been substantially demolished or replaced (Grafton, Muswellbrook, Tocumwal, Wagga Wagga, Parkes):

*Cootamundra - 1942, 880k gallon capacity, complete intact. A few remnants of the rail siding are left but will be remediated and destroyed;
*Wallererang - 1942, 640k gallon capacity, location unconfirmed;
*Grafton - 1942, 280k gallon capacity, original infrastructure demolished under remediation;
*Muswellbrook - 1942, 280k gallon capacity, continuing use as fuel depot with original depot demolished and new infrastructure in place;
*Tocumwal - 1942, 1845K gallon capacity (largest fuel depot in country), continuing use as fuel depot with original infrastructure demolished and replaced;
*Deniliquin - 1942, 354k gallon capacity, largely intact, land now used for grazing;
*Goulburn - 1942, 654K gallon capacity, largely intact, land now used for grazing, good example of camouflage (owner has turned it into a tourist attraction);
*Wagga Wagga - 1942, 1,254K gallon capacity, still in use as fuel storage but undergoing remediation so that recent structures to be demolished but WWII remaining underground storage tanks to remain intact;
*Parkes - 1942, 1,554K gallon capacity, was used as modern fuel depot but now being remediated with recent infrastructure being removed but original tanks to remain intact;
*Narromine - 1942, 654k gallon capacity, location not confirmed;
*Tamworth - 1942, 654k gallon capacity, was used as modern fuel depot but now abandoned, both original and recent infrastructure intact.
(Imrie, Comparative Analysis, 2014)

Of the Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots sites in NSW, Cootamundra was the earliest to be established. The layout site has remained largely intact and the fuel tanks appear to be unaltered. Some smaller structures including the Guard House, Sentry Box have been removed and an office added, but the fuel tanks, pump house, fencing and other infrastructure remain intact. (Rappoport, 2011, p108)

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	River flats-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Wonnarua Nation - places evidencing occupation-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Private farming-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Attempting to transplant European farming practices to Australian environments-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Clearing land for farming-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Global economies-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Transport-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Storing goods-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Developing Commercial Enterprise-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Trading between Australia and other countries-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Postal and telecommunication services-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Mail trains and parcels service-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Communicating by mail-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of passive recreation-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of cultural and natural interaction-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of urban and rural interaction-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of institutions - productive and ornamental-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes and parklands of distinctive styles-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Industry-Activities associated with the manufacture, production and distribution of goods	Storing materials-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	Agisting and fattening stock for slaughter-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Technology-Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical arts and applied sciences	Technologies for adapting wartime structures-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Technology-Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical arts and applied sciences	Technologies of constructing military buildings and structures-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Building the airport network-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	air transport-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Service Stations-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Airports and air strips-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Building and maintaining the air transport network-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Storing fuel for transport purposes-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	1820s-1850s land grants-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Early farming (Cattle grazing)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to tourist-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Granting Crown lands for private farming-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Sub-division of large estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Early farming (sheep grazing)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th century suburban developments-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	20th century Suburban Developments-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Subdivision of rural estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Rural Estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	A quiet Rural District-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Impacts of railways on rural development-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Shaping inland settlements-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing private towns-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Decentralising metropolitan activities to provincial cities-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Role of transport in settlement-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	20th Century infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing the social life of a rural community-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in the public service-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working independently on the land-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working complex machinery and technologies-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working on public infrastructure projects-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	Involvement with the Second World War-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	Sending and receiving messages-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	State links in a national network-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	Air force or defence aviation uses-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	Military settlement-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	Supplying the defence forces - e.g. Crops and food-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	Defending the nation.-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Local government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Federal Government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - providing public transport-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - public land administration-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - parks and open spaces-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Public works-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - providing postal services-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - administration of land-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Open Space Provision-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Industrial buildings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Parks and public gardens-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Designing structures to emphasise their important roles-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - 20th century interwar-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - 20th century post WW2-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1900-1950-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1950-2000-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Outdoor relief-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	community park-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to the park-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting heritage places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Enjoying public parks and gardens-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Community organisations-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Ampol Corporation, fuel suppliers-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Caltex Corporation, fuel suppliers-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	•Cootamundra's World War II Fuel Depot Site is of state historical significance as the first of 11 sites in NSW to be chosen for the bulk storage of aviation fuel during World War II, a substantial and rare, intact remnant of this genre of the national network of defence infrastructure. The war-time construction and functioning of the site in stocking and distributing aviation fuel to the Cootamundra aerodrome and no.1 Air Observer's School is a minor but integral aspect of the defence history of New South Wales and Australia. The site remains an example of the positive result of effective wartime decision-making, where the fuel tanks and other structures were conceptualized, designed and installed within a very short span of time. Also of historical interest is the evidence of consideration about the safety of personnel working in the depot during the war and safety measures undertaken at the time of de-commissioning the remediation of the structures in 1947. The site was used for its intended purpose only for a short period in 1942 but then was acquired by AMPOL after the war and continued in commercial oil company use until 1995.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Cootamundra’s WWII aviation fuel depot (No.3 IAFD) site has local level historical associations with personnel in the RAAF and oil companies who designed the fuel depots and worked out strategies for camouflaging them, and with the service people who staffed the site while it was in operation. Amongst the many military personnel stationed at the Cootamundra Aerodrome during the Second World War was a young Gough Whitlam, who would become Prime Minister of Australia (1972-1975). Whitlam undertook three months of extensive navigation training with the No.1 Air Observers School while posted to the Cootamundra RAAF base in 1942.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Many issues were resolved in the development of standard typologies for the safe storage of aviation fuel by the Australian Government's Aviation Fuel Committee during World War II. Cootamundra's WWII aviation fuel depot (No.3 IAFD) exemplifies this technical achievement in the location of the site within the state and on the edge of the township, in the carefully-designed fuel tanks, their well-constructed earth and brick casings and in the strategies for camouflaging the site. The fuel pump house and foam house are also well-designed, functional structures. The site's presence in the Cootamundra town-scape is strongly felt due to its prominent appearance on the edge of town and has local landmark qualities.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Cootamundra’s WWII Fuel Depot Site is likely to have local level significance for communities of people interested in World War II infrastructure and especially those people who worked for the RAAF, Shell Oil Company, Department of Air, Department of Works and Buildings, Railways, Ampol and Caltex.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Cootamundra's World War II Fuel Depot Site has state research potential for maintaining an intact layout and structures that have been minimally modified. The structures retain much of their original fabric and have the potential to improve our understanding of the technical knowledge and factors involved in the mid-twentieth century storage of aviation fuel as well as issues associated with the long-term use and conservation of such structures.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Cootamundra's World War II Fuel Depot Site is of state significance as one of the most intact of the 31 IAFD sites commissioned throughout Australia in the early 1940s to provide a wide-spread network of war-time reserves of aviation fuel. It was the first of eleven Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot sites commissioned in NSW.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Cootamundra's World War II Fuel Depot Site has state significance as representative mid-twentieth century industrial site, an intact group of structures built to stock and distribute aviation fuel and oil by the Australian military in 1942. The structures followed a standard typology that facilitated their quick installations within a short period of time during World War II. The site’s subsequent history of long-term adaptive civilian re-use is also representative of the history of much World War II infrastructure.
Integrity/Intactness:	The layout of the site remains largely unchanged and the remnants of the fuel tanks, Fuel Pump House, Foam House and associated pipework appear unaltered. In 2011 the brick work surrounding the fuel tanks, foam house and pump house appeared to be well constructed and intact. The features that have been removed include the original Guard House, Sentry Box and Tool Shed. (Rappoport, 2011, p2, p52)
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Review a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		01943	27 Feb 15	15 & 16	606-607
Local Environmental Plan	World War II Fuel Site	139	26 Jul 13
Heritage study			01 Jan 10

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Cootamundra Shire Heritage Study	2010		Kabaila, Peter		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Arnold, Ken	2000	History of the Australian petrol companies, Vol.2
Written	Brew, Andrea	2001	Aerodrome Study for the Heritage Council of NSW
Written	Caskie, Patricia	2000	Cootamundra (1901-1924): Past Imperfect
Written	Caskie, Patricia	1991	Cootamundra, foundation to federation: history of Cootamundra and district prior to 1901
Written	CLHS (Cootamundra Local History Society)	2008	Cootamundra History Highlights: A selection of events in the history of Cootamundra
Written	Coffey Environments Pty Ltd	2012	Remedial Works Plan, Former Ampol Cootamundra Depot (#28798D)
Written	Cootamundra Visitor Centre and Information Centre	2020	About Cootamundra	View detail
Written	Dannecker, Ben	1976	Cootamundra Aerodrome
Written	Heritage Branch and DUAP	1996	Regional histories of NSW
Written	Hocking, Jenny	2008	Gough Whitlam, Moment in Time
Written	Imre, Chris	2014	NSW Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots Comparative Analysis
Written	Imre, Chris	2014	SHR nomination for the Cootamundra Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot no.3
Written	Kabaila, Peter	2010	Cootamundra shire: Community-based heritage study
Written	Kass, Terry in Robertson & Hindmarsh	2006	"Vol.2 Thematic History" in World Wars I and 2 Survey of Buildings Sites and Cultural Landscapes in NSW(Thematic Study)
Written	Lee, Robert	2003	Linking a Nation: Australia's Transport and Communications 1788 - 1970
Written	Rappoport Pty Ltd	2011	Conservation Management Plan No.3 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot, Cootamundra NSW
Written	Wikipedia	2014	'Cootamundra' and 'Cootamundra Airport'

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5062423
File number:	EF14/23057

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of Heritage NSW or respective copyright owners.