Radar Hill, Mount Surprise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Radar Hill |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Remains of the radar station, 2004
|
|
| Location | Gulf Developmental Road, Mount Surprise, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | About August 1943 |
| Official name: No.53 RDF Station, Radar Hill | |
| Type | state heritage (built, archaeological) |
| Designated | 12 July 2005 |
| Reference no. | 602259 |
| Significant period | 1943 (fabric) 1943–1945 (historical) |
| Significant components | sentry post/s, pole/s - telephone, tower - radar, camouflage net securing points, barbed wire, bunker - concrete, slab/s - concrete, pit - weapons, cable - power, terracing, machinery/plant/equipment - defence, machine gun mounting |
| Builders | Allied Works Council |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Radar Hill is a special historical site near Mount Surprise, Queensland, Australia. It was once a secret radar station built around August 1943 during World War II. Its official name was No. 53 RDF Station. Today, its remains are protected as a heritage site.
Contents
What Was Radar Hill?
Radar Hill was a very important place during World War II. It was one of 25 "Radio Direction Finding" (RDF) stations. These stations were like early warning systems for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). They helped detect Japanese aircraft that might be planning attacks on Australia.
Because this technology was so new and secret, most people didn't even know these stations existed. After the war, many of them were taken down or destroyed.
Why Was This Station Built?
In 1942-43, Japan was very powerful in the Pacific. Many people thought they might invade Australia. To prepare, a network of RDF stations was built across northern Australia and nearby islands. The RAAF built 25 of these stations in northern Queensland. They covered a huge area, from Mackay to the Torres Strait.
No. 53 RDF Station at Mount Surprise was a key part of this network. It was important for spotting low-flying planes. These planes might have been coming from Japanese-controlled areas. They could be heading towards Townsville or the Atherton Tableland. Many Australian and American soldiers were training there.
The station also helped Catalina flying boats find their way back to base. These planes flew long patrols over places like Java. Plus, it was a training ground for radar staff. They learned how to use the equipment before going to active war zones.
How Did Radar Work?
The technology used at these stations was first called Radio Direction Finding. Later, it became known as Radar, which is what the Americans called it. The British developed this technology before World War II. They quickly shared it with their allies, including Australia.
The enemy did not have this kind of technology. This gave the Allies a big advantage during the war. Most of the radar equipment used in Australia was an Australian version of the British design. Australian scientists made it better for tropical weather. They also made it lighter and easier to move. This was perfect for remote places like Mount Surprise.
Building the Station
The radar system at Mount Surprise was designed in Australia. It had a special tower and electronics. The station likely used "AW Mk2" equipment. This equipment came as a kit, called a "Doover," that could be put together on site.
The Doover kit included the control tower and a hut for the radar operators and mechanics. It also had the turning parts and the radar screen. A "flying fox" (like a zip line for cargo) was used to haul the heavy equipment up the hill. This system worked very well in the tropics.
The operators' hut was made of wood and metal. There were also separate buildings for power, operations, and signals. The radar screen was a small, round tube. The power generator probably used a car engine. The antenna was easy to build from pipes and turned by hand.
Life at the Station
The Allied Works Council built No. 53 RDF Station in early to mid-1943. A camp was set up at the bottom of the hill. It had a kitchen, dining area, toilets, and tents for sleeping. Later, the tents were replaced with more comfortable huts. One airman said it was a very nice camp. Water was pumped a long way from Elizabeth Creek.
The first group of 36 staff arrived at Mount Surprise in August 1943. Soon after, a team came to help camouflage (hide) the station. They also installed special lights for night, dug trenches for safety, and set up weapons. The airmen practiced shooting in the nearby countryside.
The radar system was ready by August 15, 1943. At first, they didn't detect many planes. They weren't sure if the equipment wasn't strong enough or if there just weren't any planes nearby. But within three months, the radar was working very well. It could detect things up to 100 miles away!
Radar technology improved quickly. In December 1943, new equipment was installed. This "interrogator" could tell if an aircraft was a "friend" or "foe."
Life at the station wasn't all work. Visitors like chaplains and officers came to boost morale. They showed educational films and talked about training courses. The airmen could also visit the local hotel, go to weekly dances, and play cricket. They had physical training, gymnastics, and swimming. They even went fishing and hunting. They raised wild piglets for extra food!
Sometimes, storms or power cuts would interrupt the radar watch. Poor telephone lines also made the station feel very isolated.
The End of the Station
As the threat from Japan lessened, the station's operations changed. From May 1944, the radar watch was reduced to just four hours a day. By the end of June, fewer staff were needed.
On January 8, 1945, the station was put on "care and maintenance." This meant it had very few staff and wasn't actively used. The remaining staff were sent to other places. The station officially moved to Pitt Town, New South Wales, on June 2, 1945.
During its entire time, No. 53 RDF Mount Surprise never detected any enemy aircraft. It was never attacked.
Today, the old camp area at the base of the hill is used for gravel mining.
What Can You See There Today?
The remains of No. 53 RDF Station are spread out over a large area. The main radar control tower has fallen down. It is located just below a rocky hill at the northern end of Mount Lookout. From here, you can see great views of the flat land around. Other old structures are found on different levels down the hill and at the base where the camp was.
Top of the Hill
At the very top, there's a concrete bunker that has partly collapsed. It was dug into the rock. Nearby is a pit with a round concrete base and a metal cylinder sticking up. This might have been for a fixed machine gun.
Just below the top is a small, flat area. This was the base for the Doover hut and tower. The hut and tower have collapsed, and the radar screen and antenna are gone. You can still see parts of the steel frame and corrugated iron sheets from the hut. There are also old electrical wires and pipes. Parts of the turning mechanism for the radar are still there.
Around the Summit
The entire top area, including the Doover pad, was once surrounded by a wire fence. This fence used local tree poles. There are also small "sentry posts" made from local rocks. These crescent-shaped rock piles gave guards a good view of the land below.
Some old Ironwood and Ironbark trees were used as telephone poles. You can still see the ceramic insulators attached to wooden cross-arms on these trees. One Ironwood tree next to the Doover is a great example of how they used local materials.
Down the Hill
Further down the hill, on a small flat area, there's another spot with gravel. No building foundations are visible here, but there are some stone arrangements and a small pit. Digging here might help us understand what this area was used for.
Even further south, there's another collapsed bunker, just like the one at the summit. It also has a concrete roof and a pit with a metal cylinder. Two more rock "sentry posts" are found nearby. In total, eight "sentry posts" have been found around the summit and the third level.
On the lowest level, there are two large concrete slabs. One is near an Ironwood "telephone pole" tree. There's also a single fence wire attached to a tree, possibly for camouflage netting. You can see paths that zig-zag up the hill from this slab. The slab itself shows signs that it was once divided into rooms.
Another identical concrete slab is nearby. It also has an Ironwood "telephone pole" tree next to it. A faint track connects these two concrete pads.
At the very bottom of the hill, where the camp was, there's a T-shaped concrete pad and a deep pit. Another concrete pad is a bit further away. These were part of the old encampment. Unfortunately, gravel mining in this area might have destroyed much of the camp site.
Why Is Radar Hill Protected?
No. 53 RDF Station is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of Queensland's history.
Showing History
Radar Hill helps us understand how radar technology was first used in Australia. It was a key part of the air warning system during World War II. As one of 25 radar stations in northern Queensland, it played a vital role. It gave early warnings for Townsville and the many Australian and American training camps in the Atherton Tableland.
A Rare Site
This station is a rare example of Queensland's history. Many of these radar stations were removed or destroyed after the war. Each site was unique, built to fit its specific location. Radar Hill shows how people adapted to the land.
Learning from the Past
The remains at Radar Hill can still teach us a lot about Queensland's history. By studying the old structures, we can learn how radar stations were planned and built. We can also understand the challenges faced by the workers and soldiers living in this isolated area. The scattered items like rusted metal, concrete slabs, bunkers, and sentry posts can reveal details about the technology used during World War Two.
