Presented at Open Day 2013 by Jennifer Sloggett. Despite the popular view that Australia was unprepared for war, material in the State archives proves NSW had been involved in national planning for many years before the 'surprise' attacks of 1942. Jenny shares her extensive knowledge of how NSW transport and infrastructure was crucial to Australia’s war effort.

1. Carrying the load:
transport in NSW during WWII
Jenny Sloggett
State Records NSW Open Day
30 August 2013

2. NRS 20017: War files [Department of Railways] Item ‘Railways at War’

3. A crowded platform at Central Railway Station, Sydney, 16 March 1944
NRS 17420 State Rail Authority Photographic Reference Print Collection
State Records NSW Digital ID 17420_a014_a014000279

4. Equipment for the Northern Territory leaving
DMR’s Rose Hill Depot by train, 1942
NRS 20012 Photograph albums relating to Northern Territory road works [Department of Main Roads]
State Records NSW Digital ID 20012_a036_06_17261000306

5. 15 February 1930.
NRS 20224 Photographs of metropolitan, country roads ferries etc.,
and miscellaneous operations, New South Wales, SRNSW Digital ID 20224_a038_001209

6. Road accidents 1937/38 to 1942/43
Year
1937-1938
Number
vehicles
294100
1938-1939
Accidents
Killed
Injured
12575
612
8615
316558
11906
552
8388
1939-1940
327834
11200
547
8398
1940-1941
313962
10458
471
7471
1941-1942
288789
7775
480
5548
1942-1943
268673
7085
428
5096
4893700
42953
364
26366
2011
NRS 10623 Correspondence Files [Ministry of Transport]
File 42/--/2442 [10/2545]

7. NRS 19987 Action: Official Journal of National Emergency Services

8. Lane Cove National Park, October 1943, showing white highlights on cars
State Records NSW Digital ID 12932_a012_a012X2442000022

9. NRS 10623 Correspondence Files [Ministry of Transport]
File 44/31/345 [10/2558] Instruction re Producer Gas vehicles

10. NRS 10623 File 39/39B/1078 [10/2503] Dr Featherstone’s ambulance, 1939