Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex |
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Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex
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| Location | Kennedy Highway, Tolga, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1942 October - 1945 September |
| Official name: Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built, archaeological) |
| Designated | 25 February 2000 |
| Reference no. | 601815 |
| Significant period | 1942-1945 (fabric and historical) |
| Significant components | road/roadway, pathway/walkway, garden - bed/s, igloo, plantings - exotic, slab/s - concrete |
| Builders | T J Watkins Pty Ltd |
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The Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex was a very important military hospital during World War II. It was located in Tolga, Queensland, Australia. Construction started in October 1942 and continued throughout the war. This site is now protected as a heritage-listed place. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 February 2000.
Contents
Why Was the Hospital Built?
The Rocky Creek World War II Hospital Complex was open from October 1942 to September 1945. It was a key part of the medical support system in North Queensland during the war. Over 30,000 patients received care here in less than three years.
War in the Pacific
In the 1930s, there was a growing threat of war with Japan. As Japanese forces moved across the Pacific in the early 1940s, more soldiers came to North Queensland. When war was declared on Japan in December 1941, military bases were built quickly.
The bombing of Darwin in March 1942 and Townsville in July 1942 showed how close the war was. American troops also arrived in the north from March 1942. This made building facilities in the area even more urgent. When fighting spread to Papua New Guinea in May 1942, even more soldiers came to the north.
Setting Up the Hospital
Work on the Rocky Creek hospital site began on October 6, 1942. The 19th Field Ambulance unit arrived to set up a camp for the 5th Australian Camp Hospital. The 5th Australian Camp Hospital arrived on October 14, 1942.
Its leader, Lt-Col LA Little, and Matron K Cahill, along with nurses and orderlies, started a small hospital. The first patients were admitted on October 20, 1942. More patients arrived the next day from another hospital. Soon, more support staff joined, including 20 VADs (who later became AAMWS). They provided much-needed nursing help.
Expanding the Hospital
In January 1943, the 2/2nd Army General Hospital (AGH) arrived. This marked a big step in the hospital's growth. They replaced the 5th AGH. The 2/2nd AGH, led by Colonel Talbert and Matron Jean Oddie, began turning the small tent hospital into a large 1200-bed facility.
On April 20, 1943, the 2/6th AGH also joined them. This unit had served in the Middle East before coming to Rocky Creek. Patients usually arrived from Papua New Guinea. They were brought to Rocky Creek by the 4th Australian Hospital Ambulance Train, which ran three times a week.
What Was the Hospital Like?
The Rocky Creek Hospital Complex covered a huge area of 763 acres. This included both private and government land. It had two main hospitals, the 2/2nd AGH and the 2/6th AGH. It also had a laundry area and a convalescent depot for recovering soldiers.
Hospital Buildings
The 2/2nd AGH, with 1200 beds, was built by a local company from Cairns. It had 73 buildings, including laundry facilities. The Entertainment Igloo, a recreation hut, and warehouses were also built. The 2/6th AGH, also with 1200 beds, was built by a different company. The 2/1st Convalescent Depot, with 600 beds, was built by another Cairns firm.
Both the 2/2nd and 2/6th Hospitals had similar designs and materials. Each had 40 wards, offices, and other buildings. Wards were often in pairs with a service area in between. Many early wards had canvas walls and earth floors. Later wards were built on concrete slabs and could hold about 50 patients.
By March 1944, both hospitals had changed from tents to huts. Their bed capacity grew to 1400, and by September 1944, it reached 1760. These buildings still had canvas walls, but they had concrete floors. Each ward had its own wood stove, kerosene refrigerator, toilet, office, and dressing room. In October 1944, the hospital switched from generator power to main electricity.
Special Wards and Research
One important ward in the 2/2nd AGH was the Malaria Experimental Ward. Here, volunteers helped with research on malaria. Groups of 5-6 volunteers were injected with parasites from the Anopheles mosquito, which carries the malaria virus. This research helped develop new treatments. All volunteers agreed to participate, and their treatments were kept private.
Fun and Relaxation
Even though work hours were long, there were fun activities for staff and patients. The complex had an open-air movie theater where bingo was often played before the film. There was also a log-cabin recreation room and a tennis court.
Many people also enjoyed planting garden beds outside their living quarters and hospital wards. Movies were shown in the Entertainment Igloo, built in 1943. Concerts and dances were also held in this building.
What Happened After the War?
The Rocky Creek Hospital Complex began closing down in 1944. The 2/6th AGH closed in October 1944. The 2/2nd AGH closed on September 30, 1945, and moved to Victoria. After the war, many military buildings at Rocky Creek were sold. They were either taken apart or moved. Some can still be seen in the area today, bought by local people and farmers.
The Entertainment Igloo was bought by Frank and Eileen Frazer in 1947. They turned the stage into their family home and raised 11 children there! Mr. Frazer made cane furniture in the main auditorium. Mrs. Frazer lived in the igloo until 1995. The igloo and land were then given to the Atherton Shire Council.
In 1995, a War Memorial Park was created on part of the old hospital site. This was done to celebrate 50 years since the end of the war in the Pacific. Local residents worked hard to make this happen. The park has memorials, a flag pole, and a sheltered bench. Anzac Day ceremonies are now held there. Many people visit the site, especially those who were at the hospital or had relatives who were there during the war. The local Tolga State School also uses the park to teach students about the hospital's importance in World War II.
What Can You See Today?
The Rocky Creek World War II Hospital Complex site today includes the Entertainment Igloo and parts of the 2/2nd AGH buildings. These are located on Frazer Road Reserve.
The Entertainment Igloo
The Rocky Creek Igloo is about five kilometers north of Tolga, on the southern side of the Kennedy Highway. This World War II building is almost rectangular. It is about 42.6 meters long and 22 meters wide. It has two main parts: the "igloo" part, which was the movie theater's main hall, and the stage area.
The igloo's curved roof is 34 meters long and 17.4 meters wide. Inside, it is 6.4 meters high to the top of the trusses (support beams). The roof goes up a bit higher, to about 7.5 meters.
The whole igloo sits on a concrete slab foundation. This slab is about 18 by 34 meters. It has a raised edge and two drains along the sides. Twenty concrete feet support the roof trusses. There are ten trusses inside, made of wooden pieces nailed together.
The igloo roof is covered with corrugated iron. The middle part of the roof is angled up into a low-pitched gable. There's a gap in the roof for air, covered by a raised metal cap. Rainwater simply runs off into concrete drains on the sides.
The inside of the igloo is mostly one large open space. There are seven main doors into the main hall, placed evenly. Large double doors are in the middle of the front wall and at the back of each side wall. They are protected by small roofs.
Along the curved side walls, there are seven dormer windows. These windows have iron sides and small roofs. They have panes that pivot horizontally. The only glass windows are four small ones in the front wall. There are also horizontal openings low on the side walls for air.
The stage and backstage area are in a more traditional timber-framed building with a gabled roof. This part is about 9 meters high. It extends 8.6 meters along the center line and is 22 meters wide. The stage building is covered with corrugated asbestos cement sheets on its walls and roof. The stage floor is about a meter above the ground.
The stage building is made of sawn hardwood. Some inside walls are covered with wooden boards. The area around the stage is also faced with unpainted wooden boards. The original woodworking was very good.
After the war, some changes were made to the backstage area. Walls were added to divide the stage and create two small rooms. A small outside room was also added. All these new parts were made of timber and covered with asbestos cement sheets or hardboard.
Frazer Road - Western Side
Frazer Road goes southeast from the Entertainment Igloo. On the western side of Frazer Road, you can find several concrete floors on a gentle slope. These are remnants of the hospital buildings.
For example, you can see parts of the "Disinfectant Room," which included a morgue. It has a rectangular concrete floor with drain holes. Further south, there are remains of a bitumen road.
You can also find parts of different wards. These include elevated concrete slabs with signs of walls and drains. Some even show where garden beds used to be. These concrete slabs and scattered items like glass and ceramics give clues about how the temporary military buildings were built during the war.
Frazer Road - Eastern Side
On the eastern side of Frazer Road, between the road and a cane field, there are more remains. This area has a cleared strip for power lines. Road construction and power line clearing have caused some damage here.
You can still see concrete floors and other remnants on low, wide terraces. There are also signs of old roadways, broken pipes, and drainage lines. A fallen pole with ceramic insulators also shows where power lines once ran.
Why Is This Place Important?
The former Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria.
A Piece of Queensland's History
This hospital complex shows an important part of Queensland's history during World War II. Queensland was very important for supporting Australian and American soldiers because it was close to the battlefields in Papua New Guinea. The hospital was vital for treating these troops. It also played a role in using new medical treatments and technology, especially for researching malaria.
A Rare Find
The Entertainment Igloo, built in 1943, is a rare part of Queensland's history. It is one of the few small igloo-style buildings that were designed and used as a theater during World War II that still exists today.
Learning from the Past
The Rocky Creek World War II Hospital Complex can teach us a lot about Queensland's history. The concrete slabs and scattered items can reveal information about the temporary military buildings used during World War II.
A Special Connection
This hospital complex has a special meaning for people who were there during World War II. It holds cultural and spiritual importance for them.
Important Work and People
The Rocky Creek Hospital Complex is also linked to the important work of the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS). It also has a special connection to the medical units, especially the Malaria Control Unit, who developed new medical technology in Australia during World War II.
