Historical information

The I.C.I. Nitrocellulose Plant on Station Road, Deer Park was part of the ICI Leathercloth Factory, a major industrial complex producing nitrocellulose‑based coated fabrics “Leathercloth”.

It operated as a specialised chemical works linked to explosives, aircraft fabric coatings, and waterproof materials.

Nitrocellulose (guncotton reacted with nitric acid) was one of the earliest multi‑use synthetic materials. It was used for Explosives (historical origin of the Deer Park site), Aircraft fabric dope (WWI–WWII aviation coatings), Waterproof cloth and coated textiles and Leathercloth (ICI’s trade name for nitrocellulose‑coated fabric used in cars, furniture, bags, and industrial goods).

The Station Road plant specialised in the nitrocellulose coating and finishing processes, not explosives manufacture.

Significance

The history of the Nitrocellulose Plant is tightly connected to the evolution of the Deer Park explosives precinct and the wider ICI industrial township.

Physical description

Digital scans of black and white negatives

Inscriptions & markings

I.C.I. Nitrocellulose Plant Station Road Deer Park