Arabic version: سرقة النحاس تُلحق أضراراً بمخزن البارود التاريخي في هوبارت

According to ABC News, copper thieves have damaged Hobart’s 175-year-old Queen Victoria Gunpowder Magazine, taking historic copper gutters, downpipes, piping and a lightning conductor rod. The building at The Domain was once used to store gunpowder and explosives and has been described as one of Hobart’s most significant heritage sites.

Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service said the stolen fittings were important to the design and character of the site. The agency said the theft damaged the buildings, affected roof drainage and removed irreplaceable heritage features. It is assessing the damage and repairs needed, while working with local scrap metal dealers in the hope the items can be recovered and returned.

The ABC understands the damage was observed about two weeks earlier. The thieves allegedly cut through a barbed-wire fence to enter the site. Parks and Wildlife Service operates the property, which had been leased to the Militaria Collectors of Tasmania, and urgent work was required to prevent further historical damage.

Built in 1851, the magazine was Hobart’s main gunpowder storage area and was used to house explosives until 1970. Its original sandstone structure could hold about 1,600 barrels of gunpowder. Copper, bronze and brass were used across the building to reduce the risk of sparks and provide protection from possible lightning strikes.

Tasmania Police said it was investigating and had recorded an increase in copper-theft reports across construction sites, utilities infrastructure and heritage-listed buildings. Police said offenders can cause costly damage, especially where heritage repairs are complex, time-consuming and expensive. Authorities are conducting compliance and intelligence-led checks of second-hand dealers, scrap metal recyclers and other metal-trading businesses.