Babinda Air Raid Shelter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Babinda Air Raid Shelter |
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Babinda Air Raid Shelter, from the East
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| Location | Public Toilets, 109 Munro Street, Babinda, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1942 |
| Built for | Mulgrave Shire Council |
| Architect | Department of Public Works (Queensland) |
| Official name: Babinda Air Raid Shelter, Babinda Public Toilet Block | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 16 April 2010 |
| Reference no. | 602743 |
| Significant period | 1942-1945 |
| Builders | Mulgrave Shire Council |
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The Babinda Air Raid Shelter is a special building in Babinda, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1942 to protect people during World War II. Today, it is used as public toilets. This shelter is an important part of Queensland's history and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
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Why Was It Built?
During World War II, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Australia became worried about air attacks. The government asked towns like Babinda to build shelters for people to hide in if bombs fell.
Building Air Raid Shelters
The Babinda shelter was one of 57 public air raid shelters built between Mackay and Cairns in early 1942. These shelters were designed to be very strong. They had thick walls made of reinforced concrete, which means concrete with steel bars inside to make it extra tough.
The Babinda shelter was built by the Mulgrave Shire Council. It was designed to hold about 50 people. Other towns in Far North Queensland, like Cairns and Innisfail, also had shelters built.
What Was Inside?
The shelters were built above ground. They had strong concrete walls that were about 300 millimeters (about 1 foot) thick. The roof was also very thick, about 150 millimeters (about 6 inches).
Inside, there were entrances at both ends. Special "blast walls" were placed just inside the doors. These walls helped protect people from explosions if a bomb hit nearby. There were also small rooms, possibly for toilets, and benches for people to sit on. Small vents helped air move through the shelter, but they were designed to protect against direct blasts.
After the War
As the war continued, the danger of air attacks on Australia became much lower. Because of this, many air raid shelters were no longer needed for their original purpose.
New Purpose
The Babinda Air Raid Shelter was changed into public toilets by the Mulgrave Shire Council between 1944 and 1945. It has been used for this purpose ever since.
Even though it's now a toilet block, the building is still very strong. It was even used as a shelter during Cyclone Larry in 2006, showing it can still protect people in extreme weather.
What Does It Look Like Now?
The former air raid shelter is located in Anzac Park in Babinda. It still looks very much like it did when it was first built.
Outside the Shelter
The outside walls are still the thick reinforced concrete. There are entrances at both the north and south ends. In 1992, a mural (a large painting) was added to the outside walls.
Inside the Shelter
Inside, the original blast walls are still there near the entrances, but the small rooms next to them have been sealed up. The main room has been divided by a concrete wall to create separate male and female toilets. Things like water pipes, electricity, and lights have been added for its new use. Some of the original air vents were changed to be more open.
Why Is It Important?
The Babinda Air Raid Shelter is important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland prepared for war and protected its people during World War II. It reminds us how close the war came to Australia.
- It is one of the best-preserved public air raid shelters in North Queensland. It still has its original internal blast walls, which is rare.
- It helps us understand what a World War II air raid shelter was like. You can still see its strong concrete walls, roof, and the blast walls that were designed to keep people safe.
