Allison Engine Testing Stands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allison Testing Stands |
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Site in 2015
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| Location | adjacent to 71 Amy Johnson Place, Eagle Farm, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | c. 1942 |
| Official name: Allison Testing Stands (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 5 August 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602329 |
| Significant period | 1942-43 (fabric) 1942-1944 (historical) |
| Builders | USAAF 81st Air Depot Group, Allied Works Council |
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The Allison Testing Stands are a special heritage site in Eagle Farm, Brisbane, Australia. They were built around 1942 during World War II to test airplane engines. These stands helped make sure that engines for planes like the Kittyhawk fighter were working perfectly before they went back into action.
The stands were built by American soldiers from the USAAF 81st Air Depot Group and the Allied Works Council. Today, they are a reminder of Australia's important role in supporting the United States during the war in the Pacific.
Contents
A Wartime Workshop for Airplane Engines
The Allison Testing Stands were part of a big effort to repair and test airplane engines during World War II. They were built between 1942 and 1943. Their main job was to test engines that had been fixed up at a special plant nearby.
The site has different types of stands. There are six open stands built by American servicemen. There are also two enclosed stands built by the Allied Works Council. Plus, there are two more open stands and a concrete area where other buildings used to be.
These stands were very important because Australia became a key base for the United States during the war.
Eagle Farm: From Farm to Airfield
Before the war, the area around the Allison Testing Stands was mostly farmland. In 1922, the Eagle Farm Aerodrome was set up as Brisbane's main civilian airport. It was used for flying and even had hangars for planes.
However, the land was often wet and muddy. This made it hard for planes to land and take off. So, in 1931, a new airport called Archerfield Aerodrome was built south of Brisbane. Eagle Farm then became a quieter place, sometimes used for gliding.
Eagle Farm Becomes a Military Base
When the attack on Pearl Harbor happened in December 1941, Australia's role in World War II changed quickly. Brisbane became a vital hub for the United States military. The Eagle Farm airfield was needed again, but this time for military planes.
From early 1942, Eagle Farm became a huge aircraft assembly depot. Planes shipped to Australia were put back together here. Later, even captured enemy planes were tested and studied at the site. The airport was made much bigger, with new runways and hangars. American soldiers even helped with the building work because it was so urgent.
Fixing and Testing Airplane Engines
Keeping planes in the air meant constantly repairing and maintaining them. Australian companies were already making some airplane engines. But during the war, they started fixing engines for the US Army Air Forces (USAAF).
One important engine was the Allison engine. This was a powerful, liquid-cooled engine used in fighter planes like the Kittyhawk. General Motors-Holden's Ltd, an Australian company, was hired to set up a special plant to fix these engines. This plant was at Breakfast Creek and could fix many engines each day. Many of the workers were women who learned new skills to help the war effort.
The Noisy Job of Engine Testing
After an engine was fixed, it had to be tested. This was done at the Allison Testing Stands. Special equipment was used, including a control cabin and stands for the engines. Fuel and oil tanks were above the cabin.
Inside the cabin, a worker would watch instruments. They would slowly increase the engine's speed to its maximum, called "red-line" speed, and run it there for five minutes. Each test could take several hours. It was a very noisy job! People living nearby even complained about the noise.
To help with the noise, two new enclosed, sound-proofed stands were built in 1943. These were made of brick and designed to be quieter.
After the War
As the war moved further away from Australia, fewer engines were needed. By late 1944, the Allison Testing Stands were no longer in use.
After the war, the Eagle Farm airfield went back to being a civilian airport. The Allison Testing Stands were just left standing. Some parts of the site were changed over time. For example, one of the enclosed stands was partly converted for storage.
In 1988, a new airport was built, and Eagle Farm airport closed. Today, the Allison Testing Stands and Hangar No. 7 are some of the only buildings left from Eagle Farm's important role as a major airfield during World War II.
What the Stands Look Like
The site of the Allison Testing Stands has four main parts. These include the six open stands from 1942, the two enclosed stands from 1943, two more open stands from 1943, and concrete areas where other buildings used to be. Everything was built to be very practical and useful.
Open Testing Stands
The most noticeable parts of the six open stands are the tall concrete walls. These walls separated the testing areas and helped protect workers from noise or if a propeller broke.
On a raised concrete platform, you can still see where the engine stands and control cabins used to be. There are also steel circles in the concrete. These show where the legs of the barrel-shaped engine stands were. You can also see where the propellers would have spun, with old oil stains and bits of material still stuck in the ground.
Enclosed Testing Stands
The two enclosed stands from 1943 are made of thick brick walls on a concrete base. Their roofs are made of reinforced concrete and have eight vertical fins.
The southern enclosed stand is open at both ends and has a concrete floor. Inside, there's a brick control cabin. The northern enclosed stand is similar. You can still see a strong metal beam (a monorail) near the ceiling. This was used to lift and move heavy engines into place.
Other Features
Of the two open testing stands built in 1943, only one protective wall is still standing. There's also a concrete control cabin that served both stands. You can see raised platforms with circular marks where the test engines sat.
To the north-west, you can find the concrete foundations of a hut built in 1942. Next to it are the foundations and concrete floor of a warehouse built in 1943. These areas are surrounded by concrete pavement.
Most of the site looks much like it did when the engine testing equipment was removed. However, one of the northern enclosed stands now has modern concrete block walls, creating a secure room inside.
Why This Place is Important
The Allison Testing Stands are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because they are very important to Queensland's history.
- Showing History's Changes: This site helps us understand how Queensland quickly prepared for war in 1942-43. It shows how resources were used to support the war in the Pacific.
- A Rare Piece of History: Before World War II, engine testing was often done using mobile units. These fixed testing stands were quite new and special. Of the few fixed testing sites built in Brisbane during the war, this is the only one left. It's unique because it shows three different ways engines were tested.
- Connecting to People: The Allison Testing Stands are linked to the many Queensland civilians who worked hard to fix airplane engines during the war. Most of these workers, including many women, had no experience with aircraft engines before. Their efforts were a big part of Australia's contribution to the war.
Images for kids
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Inside the GMH Allison Overhaul Assembly Plant during World War Two
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Enclosed stands, 2015
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Concrete remains at the south end, 2015
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Enclosed stand's internal roof, 2015
