Small Arms Ammunition Factory

[2] In August 1939, a plan was created to expand native ordnance production in case a war cut Australia off from the rest of the Commonwealth.

The antiquated ammunition plant at Footscray was to be abandoned as soon as a more modern and efficient factory was built nearby.

Demand forced the old factory (later redesignated SAAF No.1) to remain open until the war's end.

A women's hostel was opened across the street to house the female workforce and ensure continuous operation of the production lines.

The small arms ammunition factories were fed by specialised facilities designed to supply their components.

In 1945, the facilities at Hendon (MH & MJ), Rocklea (MQ), and Welshpool (MW) were closed, followed by the original old Footscray ammunition factory (MF).

Production at Ammunition Factory Footscray (AFF) was slowly wound down beginning in 1991 until it was closed in 1994.

In 2012 Thales Australia spun off its factories at Benalla and Mulwala to form the Australian Munitions group.

Both cartridges are similar, but the F1A1 ammo has a green meplat tip and the headstamp has dimples at the 3 and 9 o'clock position (a peculiarity of the electric bunter used by the new cartridge-making machinery).

It also produces 20mm autocannon rounds and will possibly begin production of 81mm mortar shells as part of a 5-year reorganization plan.

The civilian cartridges use Sierra- and Swift-brand match and hunting bullets with a special high-temperature-tolerant propellant.