Former Pambula Rifle Range, on former Pambula Temporary Common, Ben Boyd National Park, Pambula:
The Pambula Rifle Club began life in 1893 as the Pambula Civilian Rifle Club with one dozen rifles issued by the Military Staff Office. In July a code of rules was adopted and after ammunition had been received, target practice commenced on a range that was then located on the old town Recreation Reserve (now Panboola).
Two years later the club was transformed into a Volunteer Reserve Corps and in November that year Lieutenant Bradbury visited for the purpose of enrolling members. At that first gathering, 17 individuals were accepted. The regulations stated that men had take the oath of allegiance, be of good physique, not less than five foot six inches in height with a chest measurement of not less than 34 inches, and pass a medical test, indicating the military origins of the organisation.
Looking down range from top of stop butt, C. 1927.
Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
The NSW Rifle Association, under whose auspice the Pambula Club was established, was constituted as part of the Defence Act, a reminder of the days when the nation’s security relied heavily on civilian volunteers. Regarded as good preparation for the purpose, target shooting quickly became a popular and patriotic sporting past time and even the smallest of country towns maintained a range.
By 1899 the Pambula Corps had folded, but in 1903 a meeting was held at the Club Hotel to reform the Pambula Civilian Rifle Club. Almost 30 names were submitted with more following suit soon after and in May 1904, a notice in the Government Gazette announced that formation of the club had been approved. This was followed in 1907 by the raising of an Australian Light Horse troop at Pambula.
In 1912, with the rifle club being unable to pay the rent on their range, responsibility for the site was transferred to the military branch of the Defence Department. It remained under their control until 1919, when the Department decided that as “Military Units have not used this Range for some four or five years…”, the facility should be transferred back to the Pambula Rifle Club. It was noted that the location was “…unsuitably placed on swampy ground subject to inundation…” and the range itself was in a “…dilapidated condition…” with “…no stop-butt and every bullet flies across a distance of about 900 yards to the forest and high ground beyond…cattle had been injured by stray bullets…every shot is allowed to ricochet in any direction…”
After inspecting the range, Captain Grover of the Rifle Clubs Branch proposed that it be relocated, and after a number of sites were considered, the Trustees of the Pambula Temporary Common were approached. In May 1919 it was reported that “A suitable fresh site for the Pambula Rifle Range has been inspected by the Inspector of Rifle Ranges and steps will be taken immediately to
Target trench showing wood frames ready for targets, 1935.
Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
The 600 yards mound & shelter shed 1935.
Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
secure tenure and subsequently reconstruct the range thereon…”. A 1920 memo reported that “The fresh site for the range is held under ten years license from 1/2/1920.”
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Members of the local club indicated their willingness to clear the land but as little material on the old range was appropriate for reuse, requested financial assistance with the cost of erecting the mantlet, stop-butt and other necessary infrastructure. It was recommended that cost of the reconstruction should be “…principally borne…” by the Department from the Vote ‘Grants to Rifle Clubs for Ranges”.
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Initially the club planned to continue using the old facility until the new one was ready, but in March 1920, Mr. D. Buckett, Captain of the Pambula Rifle Club, wrote that “…a few days ago we received a notice from the Trustees of the Pambula Recreation Reserve to the effect that the lease of the old Rifle Range was cancelled and to stop firing on the range immediately. It came as a surprise to us as we were informed that we would be able to use the range until the new range was opened…”
This created a sense of urgency to complete of the new ground, and in May 1920 it was noted that “The Club advised…that they were clearing the fresh site and were anxious to get on with the reconstruction of the range.” In June 1920 it was reported that “Pambula Rifle Club…have cleared the range and are waiting a favourable opportunity to burn the timber...” but by December little further progress had been made and Mr Buckett commented that “…the club has been practically dormant for some considerable time, and further the present time being the flush of the season and most of the members being dairy farmers, it is practically impossible for many of them to assist in the work…”
In January the following year, Mr. Buckett was informed that “…it will not be possible to arrange the reconstruction of your range immediately…” but later the same month it was noted that Pambula’s Rifle Range “…is now under construction. Warrant Office Sallery commenced this work after completing Bega.” February saw the Pambula Voice report “Men are busily engaged in removing the old rifle butts onto the new range...on the common.”
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In March 1921 Mr Buckett reported that the range had been completed, and the same
Inside view of mantlet, showing
machines, C. 1927
Courtesy of the National Archives
of Australia.
month an Australian Military Forces equipment report for Rifle Club No 211 was submitted showing that ranges were available from 100 to 600 yards and two target machines had been erected. On March 11, Mr Buckett was advised that the range “…may be taken into use forthwith…”
Although the Commandant of the 2nd Military District, under whose authority Pambula fell, requested “…that authority may be given for this work to be carried out at Department expense in view of the fact that when this range was taken over by the Military Department, it was in good working order and since that time has been allowed to get in a very bad condition…” Nonetheless, a significant proportion of the associated costs still fell to the local club, and in early March 1921 it was noted that “…the cost of construction appears to have been considerably under-estimated…”. Mr Buckett wrote the same month “...to make application for a Special Grant of £15 to defray part of the cost of construction of the new Rifle Range at Pambula…” According to him, club members had undertaken all the felling and clearing of the range, as well as giving voluntary assistance in the construction work.
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In 1927, the local range was inspected by Captain Grover and the same year, stablisation work was undertaken on the 600 yards firing platform because of its tendency to vibrate. That year the Pambula Rifle Club was described as “…a live one and is in the hands of efficient officers. There are some very good shots amongst the members, the club is well known as respected along the South Coast.” Similarly in 1931, the club was said to have “…some very energetic men amongst the members and they are keeping the club together with competitions…” That year work had also been undertaken to maintain the stop-butt and guard against its damage by fire while in 1934 the club returns showed 30 members classed as “efficient”.
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Mantlet & stop butt, 1935. Club members pictured included Mr. Smith (Captain), Mr Henderson (Secretary) & Dr Wing. Photo by Captain Jas. A. Chapman.
Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
Rifle Club training was being hailed as “a national sport and a national necessity” by the 1930s, and in 1932, Dr Lindon Wing was elected President of the Pambula organisation. That year he donated a new model rifle as a competition trophy and in 1936, with his departure from the district imminent, the local newspaper noted that “…all members are requested to be present early…” at the club’s February shoot to make a presentation to the "...popular club member..." Even after his departure, Dr Wing remained interested in the success of the club, and presented a cup valued at £10. In 1937, following the death of member W. G. Henderson, the Pambula Rifle Club established the W. G. Henderson Memorial Cup, with Dr Wing sending a cheque towards the prize.
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The lease agreement between the Trustees of the Pambula Temporary Common and the Commonwealth of Australia for the Pambula Rifle Range property was renewed in 1934, 1939, 1945 and 1947, and in July 1945, it was reported that it was being used by a detachment of the Voluntary Defence Corps.
Due to the nature of the surrounding landscape, access to the range was always problematic and in 1935, a grant of “…an amount not exceeding £25…” was secured to meet part of the cost of constructing a log bridge and approaches on the access roadway to the range, as well as repairing the stop-butt. In 1949 a £19 grant was allocated for further repairs to the stop-butt and mantlet.
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Situated in what is now the Ben Boyd National Park approximately 1 km in a southerly direction from the Pambula Beach Road (roughly in line with the former Pambula campus of the Bega Valley Christian College), the Pambula Rifle Range was originally 600 yards in length. Located in a natural bush setting now thick undergrowth, the terrain is a gradually rising slope running in roughly east-west in direction. The range itself also follows the east-west direction, with shooters firing from the western end up the slight incline to a stop-butt located at an easterly point.
The stop-butt remains in situ and consists of a large earth-built mound, possibly stabilised with logs, standing approximately ten to twelve feet in height and approximately 25 feet in length. A smaller mound of a similar length is located in front, with the two are separated by a trench in which target mounts made from water piping still stand. This frame measures approximately six feet in height from the base of the trench. The trench was likely a safety precaution cover against rifle fire by those responsible for fixing and removing targets from the target frame.
A small weatherboard and slab built shed approximately ten feet square once stood at the western end of the range, but no trace of it could be located during a site inspection. An aerial telephone line ran approximately 600 yards in length between the target mounds and the shed. This consisted of wire mounted on round bush poles approximately ten feet high above ground level and eight to ten inches in diameter with cross arms containing two porcelain/ceramic insulators each mounted on galvanised lead threaded mounts. A number of the poles, still containing the cross arms, mounts and insulators with telephone wire were located across the site.
According to photographic evidence and oral information, the area remained lightly timbers whilst the site was used as a range and town common, undergrowth being managed by stock depasturing and controlled winter burns. The surrounding area today features very thick undergrowth that impedes foot access and makes it very difficult to locate and identify the rifle range site. This combination of poor access and substantial ground fuel places the remaining tangible evidence of the range at serious risk of loss in the event of a bush fire.
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It is uncertain exactly when the rifle club ceased to function, but it was still in operation in 1957 and probably continued to function into the late 1960s.
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Remains of target mounts, Pambula Rifle
Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Remains of stop butt, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
The old Pambula Rifle Range is an important tangible reminder of the integral and important role civilian organisations played in national defence strategies in the past. The Pambula range on the old Town Common remained in use for a period of about forty years, during which time local men who later served during World War II, Korea, Malaya and Vietnam gained their basic rifle training there. During World War II, the range was also used as a training ground for local Volunteer Defence Corp personnel. Locally, the range is significant as a once important sporting venue, rifle target shooting being one of the most popular past times in the district, a fact that was enhanced by the agricultural and pastoral nature of the region and the need for these skills in related occupations. The local rifle club was one of a large number of sporting and recreational groups that were operated and maintained on a community basis, and as such, have an integral relationship with the social history of the district. Historic rifle ranges are becoming increasingly uncommon features in the rural Australian landscape. The range features a range of tangible items that reflect the history of the site and related organisations, and should be protected as an important extant example of local heritage and popular culture. The site may also have some archaeological potential.
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© Angela George. All rights reserved.
Remains of bush pole with aerial telephone line & porcelain insulator, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Remains of aerial telephone line cross arm, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Bush poles with porcelain insulators and aerial telephone line, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Remains of stop butt, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Remains of mantelet, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Looking down Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Remains of target mounts and trench, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
Looking towards remains of target trench, Pambula Rifle Range, 2006.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
References and bibliography :
Eden Magnet
George, Allan, pers. comm.
Hart, Denis, pers. comm.
NAA Series - MP 367/1, item 569/1/530, Part 44, No. 61 - Pambula - Military Rifle Range NSW
NAA, Series – MT 1461/1; item 31/1073/21, Pambula Rifle Range Completion Report
NAA Series – SP 1008/1; item 538/45/59, Box 149, Pambula – Rifle Range Papers Box 149,
Pambula Voice
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