RAA LIAISON LETTER 2025 – 2026 EDITION CANNONBALL SUPPLEMENT 120 veterans and the members of the armed forces that have gone through the barracks over a long period of time. “I hope they do it sensitively. We’ll have a closer look at the proposed changes and see how it works.” The Greens’ defence spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said the 13-hectare site must be used for social and affordable housing. “Done right these sites could deliver literally thousands of homes, protect heritage and provide beautiful and much-needed public parklands,” he said. “Labor selling this land without any regard to the desperate need for public housing and the strong community support for the built heritage and green open space is a three-way betrayal”. Sydney councillor Zann Maxwell called for imagination, care and a clear public vision for the site. “Across Australia and around the world, former military sites have been transformed into great civic places,” he said. “With the right stewardship, Victoria Barracks could become Sydney’s next great public precinct. “The government has made the right call. This is 15 hectares of extraordinary land locked away in the middle of a dense global city at a time when Sydney desperately needs public space, cultural venues and housing solutions that respect heritage.” Full Circle for the Downes Gun Major DT (Terry) Brennan References A. Letter from the Royal Artillery Institution darted 17 or 27 October 1961 B. Letter from Colonel Ray Reeves dated 23 March 1998 C. Letter from Major General John Whitelaw dated 2 April 1998 The model of a 40 Pounder RML Gun presented to Major HF Downes RA in 1877 will be adopted as the Symbol of Office for the HOR and record the names of those who have held the appointment. The model gun was purchased at auction in Melbourne by Colonel Ray Reeves on behalf of Colonel EJH Howard the Australian DRA at the time. He subsequently displayed the gun on his desk, where it became the subject of a television interview which is published in this article. Finally after a checkered Australian history it will return to the office of Head of the Royal Regiment (HOR). The adoption of the trophy for such a purpose is an appropriate manner to recognise a Gunner officer who played a significant role in the development of Australian colonial artillery. At the Regimental Committee Meeting in 2023 it was agreed that the Downes Gun be presented to the new HOR on their assumption of office and held and displayed by the incumbent until the transfer of their appointment. This proposal has been bubbling along for a few years since first being raised in 2023. There was a grey area surrounding the ownership providence but has been resolved in an amicable manner. The historical ownership is explored later in this article. At the Regimental Committee Meeting the Downes gun was discussed in terms of the connection between the leadership afforded by the HOR in the modern RAA and the historical role Major General Downes played in the evolution of our colonial artillery in the last quarter of the 19th century. In the context of Downes’ career the model gun can be interpreted as signifying the earlier origins of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery and the close connection with the Royal Artillery. It was agreed that HOR provides a focal point for the leadership of the RAA and is an important position, the incumbent being appointed by CA. It noted there are currently no symbols associated with the HOR position, which is perhaps unusual for a Regiment with a strong and long history stretching over 150 years to the colonial period. Therefore the RC agreed to adopt the Downes Gun as the HORs permanent symbol of appointment / office. The Downes Gun will be mounted on a secondary wooden plinth in a manner that permits the recording of all the HOR names on the base.
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