Bones Knob Radar Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bones Knob Radar Station |
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Bones Knob Radar Station igloo, 2007
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| Location | Bowcock Road, Tolga, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1943 |
| Official name: WWII RAAF 220 Radar Station, Bones Knob Radar Station | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 14 May 2010 |
| Reference no. | 602741 |
| Significant period | 1943-1945 |
| Significant components | tower - radar, igloo |
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The Bones Knob Radar Station is a special historical site near Tolga, Queensland, Australia. It was a radar station built in 1943 during World War II. Its job was to help protect important military supplies and training areas on the Atherton Tableland. Today, it is protected as a heritage site.
Contents
History of Bones Knob Radar Station
What was the Bones Knob Radar Station?
The Bones Knob Radar Station was known as RAAF 220 Radar Station. It was one of five special British-designed radar stations built in Queensland during World War II. These stations were called Advanced Chain Overseas (ACO) radar stations.
The Bones Knob station started working in September 1943. It helped protect the large amounts of ammunition, weapons, and supplies stored on the Atherton Tableland. This area was used to gather and train Australian soldiers for battles in New Guinea. The station stopped working in December 1944 when the war moved further north.
How did radar develop in Australia?
In the late 1930s, Britain was very worried about air attacks. They worked hard to develop radar systems to warn of enemy planes. Australia, however, was more focused on protecting its coast from warships.
In 1939, British scientists shared their radar knowledge with Australia and other Commonwealth countries. Dr. David Martyn represented Australia and ordered some British radar equipment.
Just before World War II began, Australia created the Radiophysics Laboratory (RPL) at the University of Sydney. Scientists there, including Dr. Martyn and Dr. John Piddington, believed Australia would need air warning radar.
In 1941, the RAAF became fully responsible for Australia's early warning radar. Wing Commander Albert Pither, who had studied radar in Britain, helped create a plan for radar defence.
Because it was hard to get radar equipment from Britain, Australian scientists started making their own. Dr. Piddington and his team quickly built Australia's first air warning radar set in December 1941. This Australian-made radar was lighter and more advanced than some British designs.
What was ACO Radar?
Nine British ACO radar stations were set up in Australia in 1943. These stations were different from others because they used very tall, fixed timber towers. The towers were about 40 meters (130 feet) high. This made them very easy to spot, which was a problem for hiding them from the enemy.
Four of these ACO stations were in Queensland, including the one at Bones Knob. While the ACO system was good for operators, the RAAF found it expensive and complicated. It took months to install, and the huge towers were hard to camouflage.
The ACO radar used a "floodlit" system. This meant it sent out radio waves in a wide area. The system had two main parts: a transmitter and a receiver.
The Igloos and Towers
The radar electronics were housed in special concrete buildings called "igloos." These buildings had strong, semi-circular concrete roofs. They were designed to be covered with earth for protection. Each igloo had a small tower at one end for ventilation and as an escape route.
The transmitter sent out powerful radio waves. The receiver detected the echoes from these waves. By comparing the echoes, operators could figure out the direction, height, and distance of aircraft.
The two tall timber towers were made from Australian oak. One tower sent out radar signals, and the other received them. Unlike some other radar models, these towers did not spin. Instead, operators used switches inside the igloos to control the radar's direction. They watched an eleven-inch screen to see aircraft activity.
Even though the ACO radar was not ideal for the fast-moving war in the Pacific, it had some advantages. It could work better in thunderstorms and was good at finding the height of planes. It could detect high-flying aircraft over 320 kilometers (200 miles) away. It also helped Allied planes with navigation.
How did 220 Radar Station operate?
RAAF 220 Radar Station was formed in New South Wales in July 1943. The unit moved to Tolga in September 1943 and then to Bones Knob. It started with two officers and 34 airmen.
The station was built because of the large number of military supplies and training camps on the Atherton Tableland. The timber towers were built from Australian oak. They were designed to be strong enough to withstand cyclones.
Special RAAF teams installed and set up the electronic radar equipment. Radar mechanics had to climb the tall towers regularly to fix things.
Life at a remote radar station could be boring. To pass the time, the airmen often went to nearby towns like Tolga for movies. They also built a tennis court and played cricket and table tennis.
The 220 Radar Station stopped working on December 7, 1944. The unit packed up and moved to Townsville, and was officially closed in February 1945.
What remains at Bones Knob today?
The former WWII RAAF 220 Radar Station is on top of a wooded hill called Bones Knob. It is about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) west of Tolga.
Today, you can still see two concrete igloo buildings. There is also a smaller concrete igloo that was used for the station's power plant. You can also find the concrete and steel bases where one of the tall radar towers once stood.
The two main igloo buildings have semi-circular reinforced concrete roofs. They are about 11.2 meters (36.7 feet) long and 7 meters (23 feet) wide. They are spaced about 55 meters (180 feet) apart. These igloos have been changed over time. One is now a studio, and the other is a storeroom.
The smaller concrete igloo is about 250 meters (820 feet) south of the main igloos. It is similar to other power plant buildings found at other radar stations.
The tall timber towers are no longer there. Only the concrete foundations remain. These foundations are about 1 square meter (10.7 square feet) each. They still have some steel parts where the timber towers were attached. The steel parts are very rusty now.
Why is Bones Knob Radar Station a heritage site?
The Bones Knob Radar Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 14, 2010. This means it is an important historical place that needs to be protected.
It is important because:
- It shows Queensland's role in the network of air warning radar stations during World War II.
- It is one of only a few remaining examples of the British-designed Advanced Chain Overseas (ACO) radar stations in Queensland.
- It highlights the strategic importance of the Atherton Tableland during the war. This area was key for training Australian troops.
- It shows the main features of this type of historical site. These include its high location, the unique concrete igloo shelters, and the concrete and steel bases for the radar towers.
