Morningside Air Raid Shelter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Morningside Air Raid Shelter |
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The structure in 2015
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| Location | 580 Wynnum Road, Morningside, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 – 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | c. 1942 |
| Architect | Frank Gibson Costello |
| Official name: Morningside Air Raid Shelter | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 6 April 2005 |
| Reference no. | 602481 |
| Significant period | 1942 (fabric) 1940s (historical) |
| Builders | Brisbane City Council |
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The Morningside Air Raid Shelter is a historic building in Morningside, Australia. It was built around 1942 during World War II to keep people safe from air attacks. This concrete shelter was designed by Frank Gibson Costello and built by the Brisbane City Council. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history.
Contents
Why Were Air Raid Shelters Built?
When World War II began, especially after the Pacific War started in 1941, Queensland became a key support area. Many Australian and American soldiers came to Queensland. They needed new buildings and facilities quickly.
Brisbane During World War II
The city of Brisbane grew very fast. It was Queensland's main city and the largest northern city in Australia. Because of this, military leaders set up their headquarters here. Important places for maintenance, communication, and supplies were also in Brisbane.
Famous generals like Douglas MacArthur and Thomas Blamey were based in Brisbane. This made Brisbane a likely target for enemy bombing. So, quick action was needed to protect the people if air raids happened.
Building shelters and other war structures was a huge job. War projects got first pick of materials and workers. Big anti-aircraft guns were set up in places like Victoria Park and Fort Lytton. Coastal guns were placed on Bribie and Moreton Islands.
The Brisbane City Council was in charge of Air Raid Precautions (ARP). This included setting up air raid wardens and fire fighting systems. They also built many air raid shelters.
Building Shelters for Safety
In late 1941, the government ordered cities to start building shelters right away. In Brisbane, the City Council was told to build 200 public shelters. They ended up building 235 shelters. They also dug about three kilometers of covered trenches in public parks. These trenches could hold many people.
Other towns along Queensland's coast also had to build shelters. These shelters had to be strong enough to survive a bomb blast nearby. Many of these shelters were built quickly to keep people safe.
Smart Designs for the Future
Of the 235 shelters built in Brisbane, only 21 still exist today. Most of these are still owned by the Brisbane City Council.
Frank Gibson Costello was the City Architect for Brisbane from 1941 to 1952. He designed many of these shelters. He was very clever because he planned for the shelters to have a use after the war. He wanted them to become useful public buildings instead of just being left as old concrete structures.
Costello's designs were modern for their time. They used simple shapes and strong materials like concrete. He often placed these reusable shelters under large fig trees to help hide them from enemy planes.
Different Types of Reusable Shelters
Costello designed a few types of reusable shelters:
- "Park" type: These shelters had four central pillars. After the war, the outer walls could be removed. This would leave a roof supported by pillars, perfect for a park shelter. The Morningside shelter is one of these "park" types. Many of these are still used as simple park shelters today.
- "Bus" type: These were designed so that three of the brick walls could be removed. This would leave a back wall and front pillars, making them suitable for bus stops.
- "Bus (stone)" type: Similar to the "bus" type, but with a stone back wall and stone pillars.
Most of the war structures in Brisbane were taken down after World War II. But Costello's reusable shelters were different. Because they could be changed for a new purpose, 20 of his 58 reusable shelters still stand today. The Morningside shelter's walls were removed after the war, just as planned.
What Does the Shelter Look Like Today?
The Morningside air raid shelter is a rectangular concrete building. It has a strong flat roof supported by concrete pillars. The floor is covered with a concrete pebble surface. There is also a colorful mosaic on one side of the floor. You can still see where the two entrances were on the side facing Wynnum Road.
The shelter is located in a grassy area near the Morningside Railway Station. It's surrounded by big fig trees and camphor laurels. The roof of the shelter is painted maroon, and the pillars are cream.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The Morningside Air Raid Shelter was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 6, 2005. This means it's considered an important part of Queensland's history and culture.
Here's why it's important:
- Shows Queensland's History: It helps us understand how Queensland prepared for defense during World War II. It shows how the war affected everyday people in Brisbane.
- Rare Survival: Many air raid shelters were built, but only a few still exist. This makes the Morningside shelter a rare example of wartime buildings in Brisbane.
- Typical Design: Its strong concrete build, rectangular shape, and location near people show what a typical World War II public air raid shelter in Brisbane looked like.
- Clever Design: The shelter is a great example of smart design and how concrete was used during the war. It was designed to be used again after the war, which was very innovative.
- Connection to Important People: The shelter is an example of the work done by the City Architect's Office during the war, especially the designs by Frank Gibson Costello.
