Behind the barbed wire: What’s going on at Vic’s most secret sites?

Some of Victoria’s most top secret sites are being used by giant companies and government agencies — but what’s really going on and why is it hidden from the public?

Victoria’s most secret sites are hidden from the prying eyes of the public.

Hidden away from the prying eyes of the public lies some of Victoria’s most top secret sites used by giant companies and government agencies.

Behind barbed-wire fences in the state’s southwest, Ford Australia uses the mountainous terrain of the You Yangs to test the durability of its vehicles before they arrive in showrooms.

The exclusive test tracks have been used for more than 50 years with the area having its own “no-fly” zones.

It is believed the trials replicate some of the worst conditions in outback Australia, European cobble stones and Melbourne tram lines.

The You Yangas circuit used by Ford Australia.

The place reportedly has a bigger lockdown policy than a military facility due to housing cars that are years away from being sold.

Meanwhile, the world famous Mt Arapiles in the northwest is used by emergency service workers for training purposes.

Victoria Police Search and Rescue, Special Operations Group and Fire and Rescue Victoria visit the rock climbing site to practice searches and rescues on difficult terrain.

Only small groups are permitted at specified times and ammunition and explosives are not allowed.

In contrast, at the western end of Port Phillip Bay, Point Wilson Wharf is used by the Department of Defence to import and export explosive ordnance and dangerous goods.

Emergency service workers training at Mt Arapiles. Picture: Fire Rescue Victoria

The wharf is 2.4km making it the second longest in the southern hemisphere.

It is understood the explosive ordnance is transported by truck to the wharf and loaded onto vessels by cranes.

Shipping containers are unloaded from commercial ships directly onto semi-trailers and

transported to the on-shore complex.

Similarly, located just 90 minutes from Melbourne, a highly secret defence facility sits on Swan Island.

The island, near Queenscliff, is used by the Australian Secret Intelligence Agency for training and is not open to the public without approval.

Point Wilson Wharf looking towards the explosive area.

Speaking in federal parliament in 2006, then-defence minister Dr Brendan Nelson said the island provided a “venue for naval training in the use of radar flares, facilities for Army Reserve training and a small demolitions range for Army use”.

Although the island is home to Queenscliff Golf Club and Queenscliff Cruising Yacht club, it remains an enigma.

Across the state lies the RAAF Base East Sale, the Royal Australian Air Force military base and training school.

It is a temporary home to more than 700 personnel for aircraft training and air force operations, accommodating them on-site during these periods.