The Factory 

The Official History of the Australian Signals Directorate, Vol 1

by John Fahey

Published by Allen and Unwin
RRP $49.99 in hardback | ISBN 9781761067723

John Fahey is uniquely qualified to write this book, having spent a good part of his career in the Australian Signals Directorate (previously the Defence Signals Directorate).

The commissioning of the book marked 75 years since the founding of the organisation in 1947. It was clear, at the end of World War II, the nation must never again find itself entering a major war without a national intelligence capability.

The Factory tells the story of how the organisation built upon the foundations put in place by the interwar Royal Australian Navy and wartime signals intelligence agencies, particularly Central Bureau Brisbane, which comprised personnel from all five eyes nations. Yet, at the end of World War II, the survival of the combined intelligence organisations (all three services) was far from certain.

There is marvellous detail in this book including historic photographs.

Central Bureau Brisbane was set up in 1942 in the Nyrambla mansion in Ascot, described in real estate terms as one of Brisbane’s grand Victorian residences. There is no mention sadly in the real estate blurb of its role in wartime signals intelligence.

Much of this book is focused on the war years, the missteps and the battles of competing personalities to establish a coherent and secure signals intelligence operation.

Funding too was a challenge in the post war environment as problems became more sophisticated and complex, leading inevitably to the question of whether DSD was ‘just a defence intelligence organisation’ or a ‘national intelligence agency’.

Subsequent changes point to its critical role in national intelligence gathering becoming a highly regarded member of the ‘five eyes’ signals intelligence system.

VERDICT: A fascinating look back at the development of an important agency in Australia’s national security system.