A cultural heritage overview of significant places in the defence of north Queensland during World War II Designed by Trish Salisbury, EPA. Copy editing by Heather Grant, EPA. Colour photography by Howard Pearce, EPA. Front cover: Wartime observation post, Castle Hill, Townsville — now a scenic lookout. Title page: Cairns civil defence and communications centre — later transferred to the Scouting Association of Queensland. © The State of Queensland (Environmental Protection Agency) 2009. Disclaimer: While this document has been prepared with care it contains general information and does not profess to offer legal, professional or commercial advice. The Queensland Government accepts no liability for any external decisions or actions taken on the basis of this document. Persons external to the Environmental Protection Agency should satisfy themselves independently and by consulting their own professional advisors before embarking on any proposed course of action. EPA 00763 January 2009 A cultural heritage overview of significant places in the defence of north Queensland during World War II Howard Pearce Environmental Protection Agency Brisbane January 2009 Contents About this report ...........................................................................................1 Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 2 Map of north Queensland .............................................................................. 3 Chronology 1918–1945 ...................................................................................4 Introduction ................................................................................................ 29 Australia between wars 1919–1939 ..............................................................31 The Singapore strategy 1921–1929 .....................................................31 Depression defence 1930–1938 ........................................................ 32 Australia prepares for war 1939–1941 ...........................................................33 Defence recruitment 1939–1941 .........................................................33 Women in the workforce 1939–1942 ....................................................35 Australia at war 1941–1942 ..........................................................................37 Japan strikes 1941–1942 ....................................................................37 A US responsibility 1941–1942 .......................................................... 38 Invasion fears 1941–1942 .................................................................. 39 North Queensland defence 1870s–1941 ........................................................41 North Queensland defence 1870s–1910s ............................................41 North Queensland 1920s–1930s ........................................................43 North Queensland defence 1939–1941 .............................................. 44 Defence construction 1939–1941 ........................................................47 North Queensland at war 1942–1945 ............................................................ 51 North Queensland defence 1942–1945 ............................................... 51 Defence construction 1942–1945 ...................................................... 58 Forestry industries .............................................................................71 Prefabricated buildings ......................................................................73 Hospital services ............................................................................... 78 Health and recreation ........................................................................ 82 North Queensland civilians 1942–1945 ....................................................... 84 Protection of civilians ........................................................................ 84 Requisition of property ...................................................................... 86 Enemy aliens .................................................................................... 88 Aboriginal missions ...........................................................................91 Indigenous enlistment ...................................................................... 92 Food production ................................................................................ 95 The waterfront ................................................................................... 98 North Queensland’s legacy ......................................................................... 99 Legacy of war .................................................................................... 99 Legacy of infrastructure ....................................................................100 WWII–NQ places of state heritage significance .......................................... 103 WWII–NQ places recorded 2006–2007 ....................................................... 107 Archived and Measured Drawings ...............................................................131 References .................................................................................................186 Index ........................................................................................................189 About this report This report was written and produced by Howard Pearce of the Cultural Heritage Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. The project was funded by the EPA as part of a State Wide Survey of cultural heritage places in Queensland. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and typology of surviving places that played a significant role in the defence of north Queensland during World War II and to prepare a report which would provide an historical context in which to assess the cultural heritage significance of these places for their entry in the Queensland Heritage Register. The study was also intended as a reference resource for further research in this field. The report identifies 300 wartime places of cultural heritage significance, including 60 places assessed at a state level of significance. Field work for the report was undertaken in north Queensland between August 2006 and September 2007. Surveys extended northward from the Proserpine district, through Bowen, Townsville, Cairns, Atherton Tableland, Cape York Peninsula, and the Torres Strait; and westward through Charters Towers to Camooweal on the Northern Territory border and Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. During surveys, invaluable assistance was received from experts including Ray Holyoak at Townsville; Bill Henderson at Charters Towers; Vera Bradley and Stephen Fowler at Cairns; Ian Holloway, Don Locarnini and Graeme Heppell on the Atherton Tableland; Ian McRae at Cooktown; Michael Musumeci at Lockhart River; Dale Young at Bamaga and Vanessa Seekee on Horn Island. Valuable research information was obtained from publications by Roger Marks, Peter Nielsen and Peter Wilson. Archival assistance was provided by Margaret Daley at Australian Archives, Brisbane and the staff at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. In Brisbane, administrative support was provided by Munevera Karcic of the Cultural Heritage Branch and the project was managed by Fiona Gardiner. 1 1 Abbreviations AAD ................. Advanced Ammunition Depot L of C .........................Line of Communication AAMWS .... Australian Army Medical Women’s LW AW .....................Light Weight Air Warning Service MGen ......................................Major-General AANS ........... Australian Army Nursing Service MRC ....Queensland Main Roads Commission ABDA .........American British Dutch Australian NEI ...........................Netherlands East Indies Command NOIC ..................... Naval Officer in Command ACH ....................... Australian Camp Hospital OBU .............................Operational Base Unit AGH .................... Australian General Hospital PMG .......... Postmaster-Generals Department AIB ...................... Australian Infantry Brigade POW ...................................... Prisoner of War AIF .......................... Australian Imperial Force Qld .............................................Queensland ALP ..............................Australian Labor Party QMIB ..........Queensland Meat Industry Board AOB ....................Advanced Operational Base RAMC ....................Royal Army Medical Corps AOD ..................... Advanced Ordnance Depot RAA .........................Royal Australian Artillery ARD ...............................Aircraft Repair Depot RAAF .......................Royal Australian Air Force ASD ..........................Advanced Supply Depot RAE ......................Royal Australian Engineers AW ..............................................Air Warning RAN ............................. Royal Australian Navy AWAS ........ Australian Women’s Army Service RNN ..........................Royal Netherlands Navy AWC .............................. Allied Works Council RPL ..........................Radiophysics Laboratory AWLA .............Australian Women’s Land Army Sqn ............................................... Squadron BG(M)(H) ...... Bombardment Group (Medium) SWPA ....................... South West Pacific Area (Heavy) TSLI ........ Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion Brig ................................................ Brigadier UAP .............................United Australia Party BS .........................