Remount Complex, Enoggera facts for kids

The Remount Complex is a special place in Queensland, Australia, located at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera. It's a group of old military buildings that were used to train and care for horses for the Australian Army. These buildings are important because they connect us to a famous part of Australia's military past: the mounted units, like the Australian Light Horse.

The Remount Complex was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004. This means it's a protected site because of its historical importance.

History of the Complex

Enoggera Army Camp's Beginnings

The place now called Gallipoli Barracks has been used for military training for a very long time. It was known as the Enoggera Army Camp. Soldiers from Queensland trained here for both World War I and World War II.

People believe that British soldiers used this area for training as early as 1855. Later, rifle ranges were built, and civilian groups like the Queensland Rifle Association used them. Many Queensland soldiers who fought in the Second Boer War in the 1890s also trained here.

After Australia became a nation in 1901, the Australian Government took charge of defence. They started buying land to train and house their forces. The land at Enoggera was bought in 1908. It was made up of four different properties, covering a large area. One of the first things built was a new rifle range.

More buildings were added between 1910 and the 1920s. These included a School of Musketry (for rifle training), a Small Arms Magazine Store (for weapons), and several places to store explosives. The special section for cavalry horses, called the Remount Section, was built in 1913.

Many of these early buildings were designed by Thomas Pye, a talented architect from the Queensland Public Works Department. His team designed many important public buildings for both the Queensland and Australian governments.

Even though the Enoggera site has grown and changed a lot since World War I, many of these very old buildings are still standing and look much like they did originally.

Horses in Australia's Military

Australia has a strong history with horses. Many Australians were skilled horse riders because of the country's open spaces and early farming. Because of this, mounted military units were very important for defending the colonies.

When Queensland became a separate colony in 1859, some of its first military groups were the Mounted Rifles and Mounted Infantry. By the 1890s, new mounted groups were formed, which became the Queensland Mounted Infantry.

When the Boer War started, Queensland was the first Australian colony to send troops. Many of these soldiers were mounted, and they trained at Enoggera. They took over 2,000 horses with them!

By 1913, the Australian government set up remount complexes like the one at Enoggera. These places trained and cared for horses for the Australian Light Horse units. Just before World War I in 1914, there were 23 Light Horse regiments.

Soldiers from Enoggera, including the 2nd Light Horse, were among the first Australians sent overseas in 1914. Many Light Horse volunteers brought their own horses, which the army bought. Others were given special horses called Walers, which were trained at the remount depots.

Walers became famous during World War I for being excellent cavalry horses. Over 160,000 Australian horses were sent overseas with their units during the war.

The 2nd Light Horse fought in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey in 1915. They fought on foot there because the land was too rough for horses. They bravely defended a dangerous spot called Quinn's Post.

After Gallipoli, the Light Horse fought with their horses against the Ottoman Empire in Syria and Palestine. One famous moment was the charge at Beersheba in 1917, where the 4th Australian Light Horse charged Turkish trenches and won a big victory. This is often called one of the last great cavalry charges in history.

Even with their amazing history, horses were eventually replaced by machines like tanks and armoured vehicles. By World War II, the Light Horse units mostly used vehicles. After the war, remount depots like Enoggera were closed.

Why Enoggera is Special

The Enoggera Remount Depot, built in 1913, was one of several built across Australia. However, most of the other depots don't have many original buildings left. For example, at Maribyrnong in Victoria, only old racing stables remain.

This means the former Enoggera Remount Complex is likely the most complete and best-preserved remount depot in Australia. Even though some changes have been made, all the main buildings are still there and look much as they did. They help us understand how important horses were to Australia's military past.

What the Complex Looks Like

The Remount Complex covers about one hectare (about 2.5 acres) and is split by Wynter Road. It has two main parts.

The Remount Section Buildings

The Remount Section was built in 1913 to train and care for military horses. It has five main buildings:

• The Barracks Block (E67)
• The Fodder Store (E68)
• The Carpenter's Store and Saddlery (E69)
• The Farriery (E70)
• The Infirmary Building (E71)

The Barracks Block (E67) was where the soldiers lived. It had two large dormitories where men slept on the floor. It also had a kitchen, mess room, and other facilities. During World War II, it became the headquarters for the Remount Depot. Today, it's still used as an officers' mess. The outside looks mostly the same, but the inside has been changed over time. It's a timber building with a corrugated iron roof, and it has covered walkways connecting its different parts. There's also a nice garden area in front with palm trees.

The Fodder Store (E68) was a simple timber building used to store food and supplies for the horses. It has white corrugated iron walls and a red corrugated iron roof. Some parts have been added or changed, but much of the original building is still there, though it needs some care.

The Carpenter's Store and Saddlery (E69) was built a bit later, during World War I. It was mainly used to store and fix saddles. It's a small, rectangular building with cream timber walls and a red corrugated iron roof. Many original parts, like the windows and roof, are still present. It's now used for general storage.

The Farriery (E70) was where horses were shod (had their horseshoes put on) and where blacksmiths worked. It used to have an open forge and a brick chimney, but these have been removed. It's now a storeroom. It's a simple building with cream timber walls and a corrugated iron roof.

The Infirmary Building (E71) was built to care for sick horses. It had stalls for ten horses, each with its own door. The floor sloped to help with drainage. Part of the building was damaged by fire in 1925 but was rebuilt. In 1961, it was changed to be used for other purposes, and the original wood block floors were replaced with concrete.

The Infirmary is a cream timber building with a red corrugated iron roof. It was designed in a V-shape. A cool feature is its special ventilation system, which has gaps in the walls and many roof vents. This helped keep the air moving and the horses comfortable, especially if they were sick and kept inside.

The Remount Complex has two distinct areas. One is the accommodation area with the barracks and garden. The other is a group of functional buildings: the Fodder Store, Saddlery, Farriery, and Infirmary. These buildings face a large rectangular yard, which was probably a grassy area for saddling and gathering horses.

Condition of the Complex

The Remount Complex hasn't been used for horses since World War II. Most of the buildings are now used for storage or offices. They have been changed inside to fit these new uses, but much of the original building material is still there. The former Barracks Building is still used as an officers' mess. Overall, the complex is in very good condition.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Remount Complex is probably the most complete former military horse depot in Australia. It has all the main buildings, like the infirmary, stables, saddlery, farriery, fodder store, and barracks. This means it's the best place to understand the important role these depots played in Australia's defence history.

The buildings are practical and well-designed, with features suited to Brisbane's warm climate, like the special ventilated walls in the Infirmary.

The Remount Complex was listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004 because it meets several important criteria:

• Criterion A: Processes

The Remount Complex is very important historically. It was built in 1913 and includes five buildings and landscaped areas designed for training and treating horses. These horses were used very effectively by Australian forces in World War I. These buildings are also part of a group of important pre-World War I buildings at Enoggera. They show how the Australian government often worked with state public works departments to build new facilities in the early days of Federation.

• Criterion B: Rarity

Even with some changes, the buildings are still in their original spots, and their relationships to each other are clear. You can still see their original purpose and design from the early 1900s. They form a distinct group of buildings.

• Criterion H: Significant people

The Remount Complex is linked to Australia's famous mounted soldiers, especially the Light Horse. Their brave actions at Gallipoli, Beersheba, and Jerusalem made them one of Australia's most respected military units. The complex at Enoggera is closely tied to Queensland's cavalry units, like the 2nd Light Horse, and the Queensland Mounted Infantry who trained here for the Boer War. These buildings were designed by Thomas Pye, a key architect for the Queensland government. He and his team designed many buildings for the Australian government after Federation.