Irwin Barracks

{{Short description|Australian Army military base in Western Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox military installation | name = {{wikidata |property |P1448 }} | ensign = | ensign_size = | native_name = | partof =  | location = {{WAcity|Karrakatta}}, Western Australia | nearest_town =  | country = Australia | image = File:Hobbs Artillery Park, Irwin Barracks, May 2021 02.jpg | alt = | caption = Hobbs Artillery Park, Irwin Barracks, in May 2021 | image2 =  | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Military base | coordinates = {{coord |region:AU-WA_type:landmark_dim:{{wikidata |property |qualifier |raw |P625 |P2386 |format=%q}} |name={{wikidata |property |P1448 }} |display=inline,title |format=dms}}{{EditAtWikidata|pid=P625}} | gridref = | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = Western Australia | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_alt = Shown within Western Australia | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Western Australia | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | ownership = Department of Defence | operator = {{army|Australia}} | controlledby =  | open_to_public =  | site_other_label =  | site_other =  | site_area = {{convert|62|ha|acre}} | code =  | built = {{Start date|1948|11}} | used = {{Start date|1948|12|05|df=y}}{{spaced endash}} present | builder = | materials = | height =  | length =  | fate =  | condition = | battles = | events = | current_commander =  | past_commanders =  | garrison = 13th Brigade | occupants =  | website = | footnotes =  }} '''Irwin Barracks''' is an Australian Army military base located in {{WAcity|Karrakatta}}, a suburb of {{WAcity|Perth}}, Western Australia. It occupies a {{convert|62|ha|acre|adj=on}} site on the western side of the Fremantle railway line.<ref name="DCO">{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/dco/documents/Wel_Western_Australia_2011-2012_Screen.pdf|page=7|title=Welcome to Western Australia|publisher=Defence Community Association|year=2011 |access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref>

It was previously known as '''Karrakatta Camp''' and '''Irwin Training Centre'''.

==History== The barracks were originally named the ''Irwin Training Centre''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47645070 |title=Army Instruction |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=14 February 1949 |access-date=12 March 2013 |page=17 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> on 5 December 1948 in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Chidley Irwin, the first military commandant of Western Australia (1829–1833).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/irwin-frederick-chidley-2263|title=Irwin, Frederick Chidley (1788–1860)|work=ADB |publisher=ANU |last=Mossenson |first=David |access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47147144 |title=Renaming Camp|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=6 December 1948 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=6 Edition: 2nd Edition |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Prior to this the area was known as ''Karrakatta Camp'' and was set-aside as a military training area by the Western Australian Colonial Government in 1895. The site was used for short camps (in tented accommodation) and courses for Militia and School Cadet units<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83910950 |title=Military – The Karrakatta Camp |newspaper=The Daily News |location=Perth |date=10 June 1903 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=1 Edition: Second Edition|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> until the beginning of World War II.

In 1896 a rifle range was constructed at Karrakatta<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66531654 |title=General News – Rifle Shooting |newspaper=The Inquirer & Commercial News |location=Perth |date=12 June 1896 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and equipped with seven sets of Jeffries patented "Wimbledon" targets{{snd}}only the fourth range in the world so equipped. The range replaced the original rifle range located at Mount Eliza,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69135671 |title=Local and Domestic Intelligence. |newspaper=The Inquirer & Commercial News |location=Perth |date=6 August 1862 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> which was used by all metro-based troops including the Western Australian contingents, which trained at Karrakatta camp for the Second Boer War (1899–1902).<ref>{{Citation | author1=HRRC | title=Kit inspection for Lighthorsemen in camp at Karrakatta training for the Boer War | publication-date=1900 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/157661377 | access-date=12 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33199872 |title=At Karrakatta Camp|newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=2 February 1901 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=28 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

On 6 October 1898 completion of buildings for use as magazines for storage of powder and ammunition for Perth No.1 Battery were completed.<ref name="AHD"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3220718 |title=Public Buildings |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=7 February 1899 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The buildings were constructed of local coastal limestone with slate roofs. These buildings have walls {{convert|698.5|mm|ftin|frac=2}} thick and floors of concrete lined with timber flooring. They still exist within the Barracks.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Australia. Dept. of Works. Perth Branch. Architectural Division | title=Stone magazine buildings at the Irwin Training Centre, Karrakatta W.A. : report | publication-date=1968 | publisher=Dept. of Works | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18614126 | access-date=12 March 2013 }}</ref> The magazine buildings are included on the Commonwealth Heritage List as evidence of colonial defence infrastructure.<ref name="AHD">{{Cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;search=place_name%3Dirwin%2520barracks%3Bkeyword_PD%3Don%3Bkeyword_SS%3Don%3Bkeyword_PH%3Don%3Blatitude_1dir%3DS%3Blongitude_1dir%3DE%3Blongitude_2dir%3DE%3Blatitude_2dir%3DS%3Bin_region%3Dpart;place_id=105215|title=Army Magazine Buildings Irwin Barracks, Brallos Pass, Karrakatta, WA |work=Australian Heritage Database |publisher=Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref>

Following Federation, the site was transferred from the State of Western Australia to the Commonwealth for A£750.<ref name="AHD"/> The site formed part of the 5th Military District and was also used for the training of citizen forces (militia) under the Commonwealth.

In 1913 the range was formally closed as it was deemed "unsafe",<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26879568 |title=Rifle Shooting|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=14 July 1913 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26881123 |title=Karrakatta Rifle Range|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=31 July 1913 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=9 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> following the earlier death of an army cadet in November 1909,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26241160 |title=Tragedy at Karrakatta |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=1 November 1909 |access-date=13 March 2013 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> with the range relocated to a new site in Swanbourne.

The camp was modernised and expanded during World War II, housing various units, as well as 1,000 Italian prisoners of war. After the war the camp served as an accommodation centre for former members of the Polish forces who had elected to migrate to Australia. In mid-1948 the camp was chosen to serve as a training camp for the Citizen Military Forces, and on 5 December 1948 it was ceremonially renamed the Irwin Training Centre. Most of the original wooden buildings were replaced by modern brick buildings during the 1950s and 1960s, though the last wooden buildings were not demolished until the 1980s.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Artillery WA |url= https://www.artillerywa.org.au/archives/2011_3.pdf |title=What's in a name? : Irwin Barracks history |first=Ray |last=Galliott |publisher=Royal Australian Artillery Association of Western Australia |issue=3 |volume=11 |pages=4–5 |date=October 2011 |access-date=24 August 2013}}</ref>

==Current== Irwin Barracks is the headquarters of 13th Brigade, an Army Reserve formation of the Australian Army.<ref name="DCO"/>

The 13th Brigade currently consists of the following units: *Headquarters 13th Brigade *10th Light Horse Regiment *13th Engineer Regiment *109th Signals Squadron *11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment *16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment *13th Combat Service Support Battalion

The barracks also house: *3rd Light Battery, Royal Australian Artillery. Formerly (until 2018) a component of the 13th Brigade. *3 Squadron, Pilbara Regiment. *Western Australia University Regiment.This unit has moved to Leeuwin Barracks in Fremantle. *Headquarters Western Australia Australian Army Cadets Brigade *502 Army Cadet Unit Karrakatta

==Stolen APC incident== {{main|1993 Perth tank rampage}} On 27 April 1993, 27 year old Gary Alan Hayes stole an M-113 armoured personnel carrier (APC) from the barracks. He drove it through the Perth central business district, ramming police targets and government buildings, causing damage to police and government buildings, 7 police vehicles, 5 private vehicles, and a bus stop.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rampage in the City |url=https://geocaching.com.au/cache/ga7430 |website=Western Australian via Geocaching |publisher=The Western Australian |access-date=26 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126985349|title=Army Vehicle in two-hour city rampage|last=Hughes|first=Judy|date=29 April 1993|work=The Canberra Times|page=1}}</ref> He was subsequently forced out of the APC with tear gas dropped into the tank. Hayes was charged with 19 counts of criminal damage, burglary and assault of police officers and was sentenced to four and a half years in Casuarina Prison with the possibility of parole after 17 months.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127255478?searchTerm=rampage|title=Jail for 'rampage'|date=19 December 1993|work=The Canberra Times|page=4}}</ref> He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Western Australia|Military of Australia}}}} *List of Australian military bases

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading== * {{Cite book | title=A Guide to Historical Military Sites in the City of Nedlands | author1=Birch, Helen | author2=City of Nedlands Library Service | year=2005 | publisher=Nedlands Library Service }}

Category:Barracks in Australia Category:Buildings and structures in Perth, Western Australia Category:1948 establishments in Australia Category:Military installations established in 1948 Category:Karrakatta, Western Australia Category:Military installations in Western Australia