User:Paul Clarence/sandbox

Malabar is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia located 12 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The suburb is named after a passenger cargo steamer called the MV Malabar shipwrecked at Long Bay on April 2, 1931. The ship was named after the Malabar region of the Indian state of Kerala famous for its history as a spice trade centre.

Prior to the shipwreck, the suburb was known as either Brand or Long Bay. The local residents petitioned the Government to change the name to avoid the association with the Long Bay Correctional Centre; the new name Malabar was Gazetted by the Government on 29 September 1933. There have been several shipwrecks on the Malabar headland - the St Albans in 1882, the Hereward in 1898, the SS Tekapo in 1899, the MV Malabar in 1931, the Belbowrie in 1939, Try One in 1947, the SS Goolgwai in 1955 and a barge in 1955.

The Malabar headland includes dramatic sandstone cliffs and provides spectacular coastal views. The western and eastern sections of the headland contain rare examples of the once extensive Port Jackson mallee scrub (Eucalyptus Obstans, formerly Obtusiflora).

The 177 hectare headland was first used by local Aboriginal people for fishing and cultural activities. Since European settlement, the headland has been used for several purposes including dairy farming and recreational shooting to military use as a training facility and a defensive position during World War II known as the Boora Point Battery.

The rifle range on the headland has been in active use since recreational shooting first began in the 1850s and it is believed to be the oldest rifle range in Australia. The range was previously known as the Long Bay Rifle Range and was renamed the ANZAC Rifle Range in 1970 by the Army to commemorate the rifle club members who served during two World Wars and the Korean Campaign. The rifle range has hosted numerous national and international shooting competitions including the prestigious Empire Matches, the Bicentennial Shooting Championships and the annual NSW Queen's Prize competitions.

The central area of Malabar headland was used for waste disposal from 1968 to 1988. The Labor Government announced its intention to sell the Malabar headland in 1986. The tenders included a proposal from Club Med to build a three hundred room resort complex linked to an eighteen hole golf course on the headland. A legal action brought by the NSW Rifle Association blocked the sale of the headland in 1990.

The use of the headland has more recently been shared by a number of recreational organisations including numerous rifle and pistol clubs, horse riding school, model aircraft flying club, bush conservation, bush walking, jogging, bird watching and rock fishing. The number of people using the headland exceeded 1,000 per week until the Labor Government terminated the user leases in October 2011 citing questionable health and safety concerns. The Labor Government demolished the Malabar Riding School structures, Army Barrack Huts, Caretakers Cottage, Smallbore Rifle Range and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Bench Rest Rifle Range in October 2012.

== Headland Users Past and Present    ==


 * 1) Alpine Precision Rifle Club
 * 2) Australian Protective Services
 * 3) Aviation Industry Rifle Club Inc, former QANTAS Staff Shooting Club
 * 4) Bankstown Chatswood Rifle Club, includes Bankstown RC 1925 and Chatswood RC 1915
 * 5) Bexley Smallbore Rifle Club
 * 6) Bradmill Rifle Club
 * 7) Cabra-Vale Diggers Rifle Club
 * 8) Concord Rifle Club
 * 9) Cronulla Rifle Club
 * 10) Daily Telegraph Rifle Club
 * 11) Drummoyne RSL Pistol Club, lease terminated November 2011
 * 12) Drummoyne Rifle Club
 * 13) Earlwood Bardwell Park Rifle Club
 * 14) Endeavour Rifle Club, includes the Sydney Navel Rifle Establishment 1946 and Sutherland RC 1914
 * 15) Friends of Malabar Headland (FoMH), formed 2000
 * 16) Holsworthy Rifle Club, includes the former Sydney Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) RC 1946, the Randwick RC 1901 and Wunderlich RC 1910
 * 17) Hurstville Rifle Club
 * 18) Malabar Riding School, formed 1993 South East Equestrian Club, lease terminated November 2011
 * 19) Malabar Rifle Club
 * 20) Malabar RSL Rifle Club
 * 21) Maroubra RSL Rifle Club
 * 22) Marrickville Rifle Club
 * 23) Metropolitan District Rifle Association, formed c1898
 * 24) Military Rifle Clubs Association Inc, formed 1923
 * 25) Mosman Neutral Bay Rifle Club, formed 1915
 * 26) NSW Police Rifle Club
 * 27) NSW Rifle Association, formed 1860
 * 28) NSW Smallbore and Air Rifle Association, lease terminated November 2011
 * 29) NSW Sydney Air Rifle Association, lease terminated November 2011
 * 30) Penshurst Rifle Club
 * 31) Port Jackson Rifle Club, includes the former University of NSW RC and Cronulla RC
 * 32) Prospect Rifle Club
 * 33) Railway and Tramways Institute Rifle Club, includes the former Workshops RC, Loco RC and Traffic RC.  This club is a lot older than 1910
 * 34) Rockdale Rifle Club
 * 35) Rose Bay Rifle Club
 * 36) Royal Australian Engineers (C.M.F.) Rifle Club Inc.,
 * 37) Royal Australian Navy Rifle Reserve Club (RANRRC)
 * 38) Scots College Rifle Club, formed 1922
 * 39) Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, formed 1948, lease terminated November 2011
 * 40) State Penitentiary Rifle Club
 * 41) State Protection Group Rifle Club
 * 42) Sydney City Smallbore Club, lease terminated November 2011
 * 43) Sydney County Council Rifle Club
 * 44) Sydney Grammar School
 * 45) Sydney High School Rifle Club, formed 1883, lease terminated November 2011
 * 46) Sydney Model Aero Club, formed 1982, lease terminated November 2011
 * 47) Sydney Naval Establishments Rifle Club
 * 48) Sydney Pistol Club
 * 49) Sydney Rifle Club, formed 1844
 * 50) Sydney Services Rifle Club
 * 51) Sydney University Rifle Club
 * 52) United Services Institute Rifle Club Inc.
 * 53) Woollahra Rifle Club, lease terminated November 2011
 * 54) Yorkshire Society Rifle Club

Sydney Model Aero Club
Miniature aircraft have been flown on the Malabar headland since the 1920's. The Sydney Model Aero Club operated on the ANZAC Rifle Range from 1982 until their lease was terminated by the Government in November 2011.

Video of a model plane flight on the Malabar Headland



Former Malabar Riding School
The Malabar Riding School operated on the Malabar headland from 1993 until their lease was terminated by the Government in November 2011. The riding school assisted local community groups, including seniors, at risk teens, local indigenous groups, people with disabilities, apprentice jockeys, Pony Club, TAFE and university students. They also participated in parades for the local RSL Clubs and other groups such as the Australian Light Horse Association and the Reserve Forces Day Parades attended by the NSW Governor and the Governor-General.

Video of the Malabar Riding School - Video of the Malabar Riding School









The rifle range caretakers cottage was built around 1890. The cottage, horse stables and army huts were demolished by the Government in October 2012.





Australian Light Horse and the Reserve Forces Day Parades
In the latter part of 1884 the venerable citizens of Sydney came together to form a cavalry unit. Initially they came together in the Oxford Hotel located in Queen’s Square. They then went on to train at Moore Park and the Malabar Headland. The Australian Light Horse have a historical attachment to the Malabar Headland and this dates back over 100 years. The training for the Australian Light Horse involvement in the Reserve Forces day Parade has been conducted at the Malabar Headland for almost a decade. The Australian Light Horse Association provide Mounted Vice-Regal Escorts in Sydney for The Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir AC and for Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.









Full Bore Rifle Range
The Full Bore range is used for the long distance, 300 metre to 800 metre, target shooting disciplines using target rifles fitted with aperture sights or telescopic sights. The term Full Bore refers to the military calibres 7.62/308 and 5.56/223 although other calibres are also used. This range is used for national and international target rifle competitions, the most notable of which was the Australian Bicentenary Celebrations attended by approximately 900 competitors from Australia, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Channel Islands, Scotland, USA, Wales and Kenya in 1988. Two matches were held, The Australia Match (formerly The Empire Match) on the 14th April 1988 and the US Palma Match on the 16th April 1988 with a prize of $100,000 and the Palma Trophy. The range also hosts the annual NSW Queen's prize competition. The Queen's Prize was originally sponsored by Queen Victoria in 1860, the competition has been held annually (with the exception of the war years) by "The Empire" countries and all states in Australia since 1878.

Video of the NSW Queens Prize 2009









Military Rifle Club Range
The Military Rifle Clubs Association (previously known as the NSW Citizens Forces Rifle Association) are a group of rifle clubs who have been shooting Service Rifle competitions on the Malabar headland since 1923. The competitions are shot at 100, 200 and 300 metres in the standing, sitting, kneeling and prone positions. The firearms used are predominantly bolt-action military rifles from WWI and WWII such as the S.M.L.E. No.1 and No. 5, The Rifle No. 4, various Mauser rifles and Springfields etc."

Video of the Military Rifle Club









Former SSAA Rifle Range
The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia operated on the Malabar headland from 1975 until their lease was terminated by the Government in November 2011. The SSAA range was located on the southern end of the ANZAC Rifle Range. This area provided facilities for Shot Gun Clay Target shooting; Metallic Silhouette and Bench Rest Rifle shooting. The bench rest stands were used for sighting in rifles and for precision Bench Rest target shooting at 100 metres. The bench rest range facilities were demolished by the Government in October 2012.



Former Smallbore Rifle Range
The Smallbore Range was used by clubs associated with the NSW Smallbore and Air Rifle Association until their lease was terminated by the Government in November 2011. The term Smallbore refers to the 5.56/0.22 and 4.5/0.177 calibres. This range was used by shooters competing in the 50 metre Bench Rest, Prone and 3 Position (standing, kneeling, prone) rifle shooting disciplines. The Smallbore and Air Rifle Range facilities were demolished by the Government in October 2012.





Pistol Range
The Pistol Range is used for ISPC Pistol and Rimfire Metallic Silhouette competitions.









ANZAC Memorial Gates
The Long Bay Rifle Range at Malabar was re-named the “ANZAC Rifle Range” by the Army in 1970 to commemorate the Australian Rifle Club members who served during the two World Wars and the Korea Campaign. The National Rifle Association records show that as of 31 December 1916, 6486 members of the NSW Rifle Clubs had enlisted for active service during WWI. The total number of Australian Rifle Club members who enlisted for WWII is believed to be between 33000 and 38000. The "Memorial Gates" are a dedicated to "Fallen Riflemen” of these wars.







ANZAC Range Memorial Plaques




NSW Rifle Club Members Awarded the Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy".

Private George Cartwright (VC)  Near Peronne France 31 August 1918 4th Battalion Rifle Club

Corporal Arthur Charles Hall (VC)  Peronne France 1–2 September 1918 Coolabah Rifle Club

Lieutenant Arthur Roden Cutler (VC)  Merdjayoun-Damour, Lebanon 19 June – 6 July 1941 Manly Rifle Club

Corporal John Hurst Edmondson (VC)  Tobruk Libya 13 April 1941 Liverpool Cabravale Rifle Club

Flight Lieutenant Rawdon Hume Middleton RAAF (VC)  Italy 28–29 November 1942 Rocky Dam Rifle Club

Captain Alfred Shout (VC)  Lone Pine Gallipoli 9 August 1915 Australian Rifles Regiment

NSW Rifle Club Members Awarded the George Cross
The George Cross (GC) is an award for civilians; it is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system, ranking immediately after the Victoria Cross.

Benjamin Gower Hardy (GC)  Cowra NSW 4–5 August 1944 Rifle Club Chatswood Rifle Club

Military History
Details TBA

See Malabar Battery

Video of the Full Bore Rifle Range and Boora Point Battery

Chronology of the Malabar Headland
pre-1780s Local Aboriginal people in the area use the headland for fishing and cultural activities. The land was known as Boora to the Aboriginals; rock engravings, grinding grooves and middens were recorded during a 2005 survey but a 2009/2010 survey failed to find the original survey sites.

1789 Governor Philip referred to 'a long bay', which later became known as Long Bay.

1819 The land at Long Bay is rented for farming and running stock according to the Government Gazette.

1826 The Church and School Estates are established comprising 1730 hectares, one seventh the total land area of the colony including the Malabar headland.

1842 The Sydney Rifle Club is formed as the first civilian rifle club in Australia.

1855 Recreational shooting begins on the Malabar headland.

1855 The new village of Long Bay is notified in the Government Gazette.

1859 The Randwick Municipal Council area is created which includes the Malabar suburb and headland.

1860 A meeting is held on the 5th October 1860 which results in an agreement to form the National Rifle Association of New South Wales (later renamed to the current New South Wales Rifle Association). The first president is appointed on the 15th October 1860. Annual Prize Meetings are held on a rifle range at the Randwick Race Course from 1861 to 1866 and thereafter the Paddington Rifle Range.

1866 Land is offered for sale and lease on Malabar headland. Maps show planned subdivisions and roadways to service the new farming allotments.

1870s - 1880s Long Bay Road (now known as ANZAC Road) is gazetted as a military road by the Government, grants were provided to construct and maintain it. Large amounts were spent on the road and it was possible to travel from Sydney to Botany. When the special subsidy was discontinued the road fell into disrepair and was covered by creeping sand dunes in the Matraville and Maroubra areas.

1876 Australia compete in the first "Palma Match" (originally called "The Great Centennial International Long Range Match") held at Creedmore USA.

1879 The first official Inter-Colonial “Queen’s Prize” meeting held by the NSW Rifle Association. Each state continues to host an annual Queen’s Prize rifle shooting competition to this day.

1882 St Albans ship wreck at Malabar.

1883 Sydney High School Rifle Club formed.

1886 An order is issued to close the Paddington Rifle Range due to the danger to workmen constructing present day Centennial Park but shooting is allowed to continue on Saturday afternoons until May 1890.

1888 The National Rifle Association of Australia (NRAA) is formed.

1888 Twelve targets are reported to be in operation on the Malabar headland.

1888 The Australian Centennial Prize Meeting is held at the Paddington Rifle Range with competitors from the British Empire.

1890 The caretakers cottage was built around 1890 on the Malabar headland.

1891 The Randwick Rifle Range is established near Maroubra Junction.

1898 Hereward ship wreck at Malabar.

1899 Tokapo ship wreck at Malabar.

1900 A tramline towards La Perouse began operation in September 1900. A month later the line was extended across paddocks to the rifle range.

1902 The NSW Government reserves the eastern half of the Malabar headland for public recreation.

1903 Seven trustees from Brand are appointed to manage the rifle range on the Malabar headland.

1905 The NSW Government reserves the remainder of the Malabar headland from sale or lease.

1907 The first official "Empire Match" is held, this is the premier international rifle shooting competition contested by Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada, India, South Africa, West Indies, Rhodesia, Jamaica, Channel islands, Kenya, Guernsey and Bermuda.

1910 Sydney High School Cadet Corps use the Malabar range for training.

1910 The NSW Government dedicates the Malabar headland for Military Purposes, officially acknowledging the existence of the rifle range.

1914-1918 World War I. The Randwick and Malabar rifle ranges are used to train Australian Infantry Forces for the First World War.

1914 The National Rifle Association of NSW provide 15 instructors to the military for duty at the Malabar rifle range.

1916 A sewerage outlet is established on the south side of the headland.

1916 The National Rifle Association records show that as of 31 December, 6486 members of the NSW rifle clubs have enlisted for active service.

1917 The National Rifle Association send an additional 150 men to “the front” as reinforcements.

1917 A new rifle range is constructed at Liverpool (unofficially known as the ANZAC Rifle Range until 1922) with 110 targets.

1919 The rifle range on the Malabar headland is named the Long Bay Rifle Range.

1920s Model aircraft are first recorded to be flown on the Malabar headland.

1922 A formal “Dedication Ceremony” is held at the Liverpool rifle range naming it the “ANZAC Rifle Range” in memory of the 599 Fallen Riflemen of the 1914-1918 World War who were members of NSW rifle clubs.

1923 The Long Bay Rifle Range is used by the NSW Citizens Forces Rifle Association (now known as Military Rifle Clubs Association), the Sydney High School Rifle Club and the National Rifle Association of NSW.

1923 The closure of the Randwick Rifle Range and transfer of the rifle clubs to the ANZAC Rifle Range Liverpool.

1925 The Army give notice that the rifle clubs using Long Bay Rifle Range are to be transferred to the ANZAC Rifle Range Liverpool.

1929 The control of the Malabar headland and Long Bay Rifle Range is transferred to the Commonwealth Government.

1930s Local residents use the Malabar headland as a venue for two-up and other gambling activities.

1931 The MV Malabar is shipwrecked near Boora Point on April 2, 1931.

1933 The village of Brand is renamed Malabar on the 29 September to distinguish the local village from Long Bay Gaol.

1938 Australia's 150th Anniversary Celebrations. The "Empire Match" is held at the Liverpool Range from 5 to 12 February 1938 attended by 1,300 competitors including teams from Great Britain, New Zealand and South Africa. 337,150 rounds fired.

1939 27 November. The Hotchkiss guns were used for the first time at Long Bay rifle range and the result of the shoot was very satisfactory.

1939-1945 World War II. Military installations (circa 43 in number) are built on the Malabar headland, notably the Boora Point Battery in 1941. The Long Bay Rifle Range is used for training of the Armed Forces.

1941 Trials of the 9mm Owen Gun are conducted September to October 1941 at the Long Bay Rifle Range, Malabar. The Owen Gun is found to be more reliable than the American Thompson and the British Sten guns. The Owen Gun is issued to Australian Armed Forces towards the end of 1942 and continued in service during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

1942-1946 Many thousands from the Australian rifle clubs enlist in the Australian Military Services. The figure is believed to be between 33000 and 38000.

1951 The Cumberland County Plan zones the Malabar headland as 'special uses'.

1954 The Memorial Gates at the entrance to ANZAC Rifle Range Liverpool are constructed and dedicated on the 10th October as a “Memorial to Fallen Riflemen” of the two World Wars and the Korea Campaign.

1960 The Boora Point Battery is decommissioned.

1960 142.5 hectares of the Randwick Rifle Range are sold to Randwick Council.

1962 The Army give notice that the ANZAC Rifle Range at Liverpool would close December 1967. Planning commenced to transfer the rifle clubs to Long Bay Rifle Range at Malabar.

1967 Closure of the ANZAC Rifle Range, Liverpool after 47 years. The rifle clubs transfer to the Long Bay Rifle Range.

1968-1988 The Malabar headland and rifle range site is used for extensive landfill operations.

1968 Shooting championships at the Long Bay Rifle Range attract 353 entries.

1970 The Long Bay Rifle Range Malabar is renamed the ANZAC Rifle Range by M.F. Brogan CB CBE Major General Eastern Command on the 25th April 1970.

1972 A lease agreement between the Australian Army and the NSW Rifle Association describe the terms of use and termination conditions for the ANZAC Rifle Range at Malabar.

1975 The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) first use the ANZAC Rifle Range Malabar after reaching an agreement with the Army.

1978 The Memorial Gates commemorating those who served during the World Wars and the Korea Campaign are moved from Liverpool to the Malabar range.

1982 The Sydney Model Aero Club share use of the Malabar headland.

1986 The Commonwealth Government announced its intention to sell the Malabar headland after the Bicentenary Shooting Championships. Official military use ceases.

1986 The Energy Authority of New South Wales erects an experimental wind driven generator on the Malabar headland.

1987 Eighty hectares of the Malabar headland is placed in the register of the National Estate. The area is said to contain rare mallee scrub (Eucalyptus Obstans, formerly Obtusiflora).

1988 Australia’s Bicentenary (1788-1988). More than 900 competitors from the Commonwealth of Nations and the USA Palma Match team take part in the Bicentennial Shooting Championships held at ANZAC Rifle Range Malabar.

1988 Military training ceases on the Malabar headland on the 8th May after 78 years. On this date the flag was lowered to the Last Post alongside the setting sun.

1988 The Government receive a number of tenders for the Malabar headland including a proposal from Club Med to build a three hundred room resort complex linked to an eighteen hole golf course.

1990 A legal judgement declares that the Commonwealth had not validly terminated the NSW Rifle Association lease agreement. Another Notice of Termination was subsequently served and a new eviction date set for August 25, 1993.

1992 Commonwealth Games trials are held at the ANZAC Rifle Range Malabar.

1992 Sydney Water Board considers purchasing the range site to increase the size of the Malabar Sewage Treatment Plant.

1993 The Malabar Riding School is formed on the rifle range.

1994 The 150th Anniversary of the Sydney Rifle Club. A judgement handed down on 22 July by NSW Supreme Court confirmed the Commonwealth’s right to close Anzac Rifle Range.

1998 The Commonwealth Government issued a joint media release on 21 September by the Minister for Finance and Administration and the Minister for Sport and Tourism. “the sporting shooters of NSW will be able to establish new headquarters at Holsworthy, under a grant of $9 million from the Commonwealth Government.”

2000 The Friends of Malabar Headland (FoMH) conservation organisation is formed “to protect the natural and cultural heritage of Malabar headland”.

2005 The Defence Department disallow re-location of the ANZAC Rifle Range to Holsworthy due to the military installations and civilian occupancy restrictions.

2007 The Australian Government agree to a long term lease for the NSW Rifle Association to remain at Anzac Rifle Range Malabar. Later the same year this decision was overturned by the Labor government following a general election.

2007 The Australian Government announced that it would transfer responsibility for the whole of the Malabar headland (177 hectares) to the NSW Government.

2010 The 150th Anniversary of the NSW Rifle Association 1860 to 2010.

2010 The Australian Government announce its intention to transfer sections of the headland (70 hectares excluding the central rifle range section) to the state of NSW for use as a National Park after remediation work to make it safe for public use.

2011 The Deed of Transfer for Lot 102 (the western section) from the Commonwealth Government to the State of NSW is signed 27 February 2011.

2011 A Process Agreement is signed for Lot 202 (the eastern section) to describe the process and future transfer of this section from the Commonwealth Government to the State of NSW is signed 27 February 2011.

2011 The Commonwealth Government issues termination notices in April 2011 to the Drummoyne RSL Pistol Club, the Malabar Riding School, the Sporting Shooters of Australia and the Sydney Model Aero Club instructing them to vacate the headland by 31 October 2011. The lease agreements for the remaining users, the NSW Rifle Association and the NSW Smallbore and Air Rifle Association contain a relocation clause allowing continued use of the headland until a suitable alternative range site is provided by the Government.

2011 The Commonwealth Government issues termination notices on the 21st October to the NSW Rifle Association and the NSW Smallbore and Air Rifle Association instructing them to vacate the headland by 31 January 2012. The NSW Rifle Association start legal proceedings to challenge the validity of the termination notice. The leases for the other users of the headland are terminated in November 2011.

2012 The western section of the headland is transferred from the Commonwealth to the NSW Government on 2 March 2012. This 17.7 hectare area included the Smallbore Rifle Range and NSW Rifle Association buildings that were demolished in October 2012. The area contains remnants of the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, eucalypt woodlands and coastal heath land that now form part of a National Park.

2012 The Malabar Headland Protection Bill 2012 is introduced 2 May “to protect the environmental values and Aboriginal cultural heritage of the Malabar headland”

2012 The NSW Supreme Court judgement 20 July directs the Commonwealth Government to arrange an alternative range location before terminating the NSW Rifle Association lease. The eastern section of the headland (Lot 202) forms part of the rifle range safety area and its proposed transfer cannot proceed until the ANZAC Rifle Range is relocated.

2012 The Commonwealth Government demolish the Malabar Riding School structures, Army Barrack Huts, Caretakers Cottage, Smallbore Rifle Range and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Bench Rest Rifle Range in October 2012.