Blueberry Hill holds a unique place in Orange's history because of World War II.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the early 1940s it was transformed from paddocks into a bustling new suburb with quickly-built houses as the people of Orange did their bit for the war effort.
The Small Arms Factory was opened in Edward Street in 1942 to make rifles and bayonets for Australian troops.
The Orange museum's publication There's A War On recorded the transformation of the area in Glenroi.
"Fibro houses were built on Blueberry Hill, overlooking the factory, to house munitions workers," it said.
"Streets were dirt with no footpaths and dusty. The houses were dubbed 'duration cottages' and were expected to be pulled down after the war, but still stand today."
In 1945 at war's end a local campaign led to the munitions factory being taken over by Emmco, later Email and Electrolux, to make refrigerators and whitegoods.
The duration cottages lived on to house factory workers.
Historian Ross Maroney said there were only a few different designs.
"They were put up very quickly," he said.
"They were only meant to be there for the war but people were [eventually] allowed to buy them and they became popular."
Street names on the hill, where about 190 duration cottages were built, were named after WWII places and battles that occurred between 1941 and 1943 involving Australian forces.
TOBRUK CRESCENT
The Siege of Tobruk, in Libya, lasted 241 days in 1941. It started when Tobruk was besieged by an Italian and German force but was eventually won by Allied forces.
BUNA STREET, GONA STREET
These two streets share the name of the Battle of Buna-Gona in Papua New Guinea from November 1942 to January 1943.
Australian and American forces sought to take the Japanese beach heads at coastal villages including Buna and Gona. Buna was the trailhead for the Kokoda Track.
KOKODA STREET
It is named after the Kokoda Track campaign, a series of battles in 1942, ultimately won by Australian forces.
MORESBY STREET
An aerial battle was fought between Australian and American forces and the Japanese over Port Moresby from 1942-1943.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...