Gunpowder is very volatile and can be ignited by the smallest spark. Several horrific accidents resulted in NSW passing legislation to cover the safe storage of gunpowder but initially these laws did not apply to Victoria. this was rectified and the first Melbourne magazine was erected on Batman's Hill in 1845. The Victorian Gunpowder Act (1857) made local councils responsible for the safe storage of gunpowder. The Victorian government made L.909 available for a suitable building in Sandhurst. Built on Camp Hill it was finished in April 1857 and the first keeper, Mr J. F. Kerr was appointed in October 1857. Late in 1857, tenders were called for the building of a keeper's residence at the siteEleven pages typewritten document titled "the Victorian Powder Magazines and the Gunpowder Acts". Author unknown.melbourne, gunpowder acts, victorian legislation, powder magazines