The shaded area in the following map is where the Radio-Electric Works were, or at least this was the main site. It's interesting to hear that AWA occupied other buildings in the area. It would be good to find out if there are photos of these and also of the Stanmore site.

Courtesy of Bing Maps.

Seeing that view suddenly reminded me that buried somewhere I have Sydney From the Skies -- Aerial Survey 1943 on DVD.

So here, in glorious monochrome, is that view in 1943.

Red circle marks the approximate centre.

Looking at it, I'm thinking the complex may have extended right back to Church Street. Maybe not. I'll ask John Mc.

"AWA also had development and testing facilities in North Ryde, off Talavera Rd facing Lane Cove Rd"

North Ryde, that's another name that stands out from the 1960s/70s, good to "visit" location today and get a sense of its urban context.

North Ryde, that's another name that stands out from the 1960s/70s, good to "visit" location today and get a sense of its urban context.

The North Ryde/Macquarie Park area has become a technology hub with numerous multinationals there, including Microsoft.

I'll bet whatever signage wasn't painted on would be worth a mint today!

North Ryde, just up the road from where I live, is a tech hub as GTC mentioned - due in part to all the ISPs based there, North Ryde is one of the Nation's Internet gateways.

A lot of residential development is taking place in surrounding suburbs though, mainly medium and high rise towers. Ryde, Lane Cove, Chatswood and Rhodes look nothing like they did twenty years ago.

I'll bet whatever signage wasn't painted on would be worth a mint today!

As far as I know, the front gates and a few other items which had the AWA logo on them were saved from burial though I do not know what became of them.

There's a lot of differences in the two aerial photos. Parramatta Road still has its light rail lines taking trams from Railway Square to Abbotsford Point. Many of AWA's employees would have come to work by tram. Frederick Street is much narrower and doesn't yet meet up with a mis-aligned Wattle Street. The Peek Freans factory doesn't appear to have its clock tower yet.

GTC, I think you are right when you mention that the AWA site goes back to Church Street - although narrow it'd make sense for that building with the angled sawtooth roof to belong. I do know that AWA made different things in different buildings - transmitters in one, radios in another, valves (AWV) in another, etc. Perhaps that building at the back was a parts warehouse as such a place would need ready access to the street.

Is Deco Meadowbank building still there? Rounded corners and early fifties cars in picture.

Picture link stopped working, but saw it yesterday.

Those multi-pane factory windows at sides can be a problem with boys throwing stones or air rifle pellets. Some old businesses can't afford to keep replacing them.

Yes, it is still there. Last time I drove past the joint there was a gym and a self storage place in there. The outside of the place is not too well cared for though unfortunately. Lots of flaking paint and long grass.

Still, this may ultimately mean the building is destined to be bulldozed. Meadowbank, once a thriving industrial ground, is fast becoming high density housing. The Hoover factory has become a works depot for Ryde City Council and the Wisdom toothbrush factory is gone, again, being replaced by a block of flats. There were dozens of other factories between Church Street, Ryde and the Northern Railway Line. All are gone and replaced with blocks of flats.

Even the good old Aussie 1/4 residential block - something we all once took for granted - is no longer part of the deal. In Sydney you either buy a flat or live on the outskirts in a huge house that costs thousands to heat and cool with a backyard that is smaller than the kitchen.

My father and grandfather worked at the AWA Ashfield factory. My Dad was a toolmaker but I've no idea what my grandfather did there. He was a licenced electrician but was also a radio technician during the war working on the transceivers in Lancasters and Spitfires. He also flew as a Wireless Air Gunner (the wireless operator and mid gunner) in Lancaster's, Sunderland's and Catalina's. My Dad's not too sure what he did at AWA either although they worked there at the same time. He suspects he was a maintenance supervisor.

I remember when I was young my grandfather would walk home to Orpington Street from the factory and wheel out the TV he had made himself to watch the 6 o'clock news. No one was permitted to touch that TV but himself and absolute silence was demanded during the news. I always fancied he'd made it from parts purloined from the factory.

My father and grandfather worked at the AWA Ashfield factory. My Dad was a toolmaker but I've no idea what my grandfather did there.

I imagine that there was a very large maintenance and toolmaking team at the time. Looking at the valve manufacturing process alone, the requirement for toolmakers and associated trades to keep it running must have been immense.

GTC, I think you are right when you mention that the AWA site goes back to Church Street - although narrow it'd make sense for that building with the angled sawtooth roof to belong.

John Mc replies: "To the best of my knowledge AWA added the Telephone Factory at the rear and the factory went right back to Church St."

Is Deco Meadowbank building still there? Rounded corners and early fifties cars in picture.

Yes, it's still there but looking pretty unloved. Here it is from Google, dated 2013. The street trees now block the view but you can still see the flagpole between them.

Which is better:
Going to good paying manufacturing job on electric tram or (today) stuck in traffic going to part time job at Bunnings?

or stuck in traffic going to part time job at Bunnings?

I was out that way this afternoon, doing research on AWA (more details soon), and Paramatta Rd was a bumper-to-bumper parking lot.

(And I wouldn't want a job at Bunnings for any money.)