In early 1939, the Chief of the Air Staff requested a RAAF committee to investigate the specifications for storage tanks in inland locations to store aviation fuel and oil. They were to be located inland to make them immune to attacks from carrier based aircraft.

The Construction of 19 inland aircraft fuel depots (IAFD) and extensions to 5 existing fuel depots was approved in War Cabinet Minute No. 1963, dated 9 March 1942. These sites would store 20, 760, 000 gallons of aircraft fuel.

Typically each depot had a workforce of 5 personnel as follows:-

• Cook
• Equipment assistant
• 3 guards

The construction work on these depots was substantially completed by October 1943. A total of 31 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots were in operation by May 1944.

House built on top of one of the tanks