Operations and Signals Bunker, Wulguru facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operations and Signals Bunker |
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Operations and Signals Bunker (former), 1996
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| Location | Off Stuart Drive, Wulguru, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1942 - 1944 |
| Official name: Operations and Signals Bunker (former), James Cook University, RAAF No.3 Fighter Sector Headquarters (3FSHQ), Stuart Immigration Hostel | |
| Type | state heritage (built, archaeological) |
| Designated | 28 August 1998 |
| Reference no. | 601708 |
| Significant period | 1942-1943 (fabric) 1940s (historical) |
| Significant components | camouflage net securing points, machinery/plant/equipment - communications, bunker - concrete, slab/s - concrete |
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The Operations and Signals Bunker is a special building with a lot of history. It is located off Stuart Drive in Wulguru, near Townsville, Queensland, Australia. This bunker was built between 1942 and 1944 during World War II. It was an important place for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and was also known as the No. 3 Fighter Sector Headquarters (3FSHQ). Later, it was used as a hostel for new immigrants and by James Cook University. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1998 because of its historical importance.
Contents
A Wartime Secret: The Bunker's Story
Building for Defence
The Operations and Signals Bunker was built between 1942 and 1944. It was created for the No. 3 Fighter Sector Headquarters of the Royal Australian Air Force. This group moved into the bunker in late 1944. Their work then became part of the larger Air Defence Headquarters.
In the late 1930s, Japan's military was becoming more active in Asia. Because of this, the Australian Government started building air bases in northern Australia. The Defence Department worked with the Townsville City Council to take over the Garbutt aerodrome in 1939. By 1940, Australia owned the land. Construction of three long, sealed runways began in 1941.
Townsville's Role in World War II
The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 made the threat of war even bigger. Australia and America decided to build a major military base in the Townsville area. The Garbutt runways were finished in February 1942. Soon after, units of the 5th Air Force from the United States Army Air Force arrived. More bomber bases were set up in Charters Towers and Cloncurry. Several smaller airstrips for fighter planes were also built between Townsville and Charters Towers.
The Job of 3FSHQ
The 3FSHQ was first set up in a temporary spot at Townsville Grammar School in February 1942. Its job was to support air units in North Queensland. As the war moved north towards New Guinea, the 3FSHQ's area grew. It stretched from Rockhampton in the south to Mount Isa in the west and New Guinea in the north.
The 3FSHQ controlled fighter plane operations. It also helped coordinate anti-aircraft defences. They kept radio watch for bomber and reconnaissance planes from their Operations Centre.
Connecting the Defences
The 3FSHQ was linked by telephone and radio to anti-aircraft guns and searchlights. It also connected to Radio direction finder stations and high frequency direction finding (HF/DF) stations. These were in the Townsville and Charters Towers areas. HF/DF stations helped fighter pilots find their way during patrols. The station was also connected by phone to RAAF Headquarters in Melbourne. It was responsible for telling the RAAF Command about all new developments. The Operations Centre also gave air raid warnings. It helped courier and civilian planes flying between Brisbane and New Guinea find their positions.
Choosing a Safe Location
The Grammar School was not a safe place for the 3FSHQ because it could be attacked from the air. So, planning for a new headquarters began in 1942. The new complex was built on the lower, eastern slopes of Mount Stuart. The Australian Government took over 68 acres of land for this in August 1942.
This spot was perfect. It was far enough from the main airfields and hidden from public view. But it was still close enough to other important military sites. If an enemy attacked, the bunker's position would make it hard to hit. The natural camouflage of the area also made it difficult to find.
Building the Bunker
Construction of the complex started in late 1942. The Operations and Signals Bunker was ready by early 1943. It was a semi-underground building, with all its cables buried. However, it wasn't used until late 1944. This was because the living areas for the staff were not finished. There was also a question about whether the bunker was too far from the airfield to brief air crews quickly enough.
The bunker itself had air conditioning and its own power plant. Inside, a steel floor divided it into two levels. It had 32 rooms and hallways, separated by caneite walls. Important rooms included the Operations Room, Engine Room, and Signal Officers Room.
After the War
The Administration Section also moved to the Stuart site in December 1944. In January 1945, the Royal Australian Air Force set up their Air Defence Headquarters there. They operated from this complex until 1947.
After the war, the complex (except for the bunker) was used as a place for immigrants. Many extra huts were added to house the large number of new arrivals. Many of these immigrants later made their homes in North Queensland.
In 1961, James Cook University bought the site. They used it for student housing while new residential halls were being built. When the university bought the property, the bunker still had some furniture. There was a large mapping table with maps, and maps on the wall still had marker pins. The switchboards and other communication equipment were mostly still there. Photos taken at the time were given to the university.
Sadly, in 1962 or 1963, the inside of the bunker was destroyed by fire. In the early 1970s, the site was emptied. The old barracks were either torn down or moved. The university still owns the property, but the bunker is the only building left on the site.
What the Bunker Looks Like Now
The former Operations and Signals Bunker is a rectangular, two-story concrete building. It is built into the side of Mount Stuart. The site is set back from Stuart Drive, which is now a highway. It is about ten kilometres southwest of Townsville's city centre.
The bunker is about 18 by 13 metres in size. It has a flat concrete roof and strong side walls. You can still see parts of its original camouflage paint. This paint was chosen to blend in with the pink granite of the hill.
The bunker has a main room that is two stories tall. Smaller rooms are attached to the front. The main room still shows signs of the mezzanine floor, air-conditioning ducts, and toilets.
The front section has about six smaller rooms on two levels. Four of these rooms can be entered from outside. The two rooms at the western end are entered from the main room. The lower of these two western rooms still has a large metal frame for the fuses and telephone cables. Some fuses are still visible. This is the only piece of equipment left in the bunker. Part of the floor in this room seems to be rubble, filling a small tunnel for cables.
On either side of the bunker are two round structures. These might have been bases for communication antennas or anchors for the bunker's camouflage net. They are about four metres wide. They are made of low stone walls with a cone-shaped concrete top.
Between the bunker, the creek to the northwest, and the road to the northeast, there are several concrete slabs and steps. There are also scattered building materials and other items. These are what's left of other buildings from the complex. They might have been washrooms or stands for hot water boilers.
Why This Place is Important
The former Operations and Signals Bunker was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1998 for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
This bunker, built in 1942-1943, was the main office for the No. 3 Fighter Sector Headquarters (3FSHQ). This group controlled fighter planes and anti-aircraft defences across North Queensland and New Guinea. When the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took it over in January 1945, it became a key communication hub for Allied Air Forces in Townsville during the final months of the Pacific War. The bunker is one of many World War II buildings in Townsville. It shows how important the region, especially Townsville, was during the war.
- It can teach us more about Queensland's history.
Around the bunker, there are still parts and materials from other buildings in the complex. These can help us learn even more about the site's past.
- It is a great example of its type of building.
The outside of this concrete bunker is still mostly in its original state. You can still see parts of its camouflage paint scheme. Inside, only a part of the fuse and telephone cable board remains.
- It has a special connection to different groups of people.
The former Operations and Signals Bunker has a special meaning for the many European immigrants who lived there after World War II. Many of them stayed and made North Queensland their home. The bunker is also connected to James Cook University. In the 1960s, when the university was just starting, the complex was used as temporary housing for students.
