Published Resources Details

Resource

Creator
Anon.
Title
Army Inventions Directorate, 1942-46
Secondary Title
Fact sheet
Type of Work
Finding Aid
Imprint
National Archives of Australia, Australia
Url
https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/fact-sheets/army-inventions-directorate-1942-46
Format
HTML
Description

On this page:
Inventions to support the war effort
Record holdings
Army Inventions Directorate records held in Melbourne
Download fact sheet (PDF, 347kB)

Abstract

Inventions to support the war effort:

In 1942 the Army Inventions Directorate (CA 537) was formed to encourage, coordinate, test and develop inventions of merit - particularly those with military applications - to assist Australia and the Allies in the war effort. The Directorate replaced the Central Inventions Board (CA 153), but had greater functions and resources at its disposal.

With headquarters in Melbourne and offices in each State capital and in Newcastle, the Directorate used the mass media and various technical journals to call for inventions. It also circulated lists of problems to selected inventors and scientific and technical organisations. By the time it was disbanded in 1946, the Directorate had received over 20,000 submissions and had accepted 127 for development. DP Mellor devoted a chapter in The Role of Science and Industry (volume V of the 'Civil' series of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1939-45) to the Directorate's role and detailed some of the most notable submissions.

Record holdings:

The Melbourne office of the National Archives holds a relatively comprehensive collection of Army Inventions Directorate records, including correspondence records about inventions; drawings, plans and photographs of inventions; and a range of indexes and registers. Details of these records are listed below.

Corporate Bodies

Related Published resources

References

  • Mellor, D. P., The Role of Science and Industry, Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Volime 5 of Series 4 (Civil) (Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1958). Details

EOAS ID: bib/ASBS17426.htm

This Edition: 2026 February - 1926 Centenaries
Kooyang - Gariwerd calendar - Late summer: late January to late March - season of eels
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Publisher: Swinburne University of Technology.

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