Historical information

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004).

John Gates began working at the Truganina Explosives Reserve handling explosives at the magazines in 1946. He was appointed assistant manager in 1956. When the site closed in 1962 he was retrained and worked at the Births, Deaths and Marriages offices.
In this interview he and his step-daughter, Sue King, talk of life in Altona, life on the Explosives Reserve and some of the people who worked there.

Significance

A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoria

Physical description

Digital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018