Stones Corner Air Raid Shelter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stones Corner Air Raid Shelter |
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Structure in 2015
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| Location | 286 Logan Road, Stones Corner, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 – 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | c. 1942 |
| Architect | Frank Gibson Costello |
| Official name: Stones Corner Air Raid Shelter | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 6 April 2005 |
| Reference no. | 602485 |
| Significant period | 1942 (fabric) 1940s (historical) |
| Builders | Brisbane City Council |
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The Stones Corner Air Raid Shelter is a special building in Stones Corner, Australia. It is a former air raid shelter that was built during World War II. An air raid shelter is a strong building designed to protect people from bombs dropped by enemy planes.
This shelter was designed by Frank Gibson Costello. It was built around 1942 by the Brisbane City Council. Today, it is recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 April 2005.
Contents
Why Air Raid Shelters Were Needed
World War II Comes to Australia
On December 7, 1941, the United States joined World War II. This happened after Japan bombed the American fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Before this, England and its Commonwealth countries had been fighting Germany since 1939. Now, the war became truly global.
Japan first bombed Darwin, Australia, on February 19, 1942. Many Australians were also captured when Singapore fell. Because of these events, Australia quickly made plans to defend itself from a possible Japanese invasion. Queensland became an important base for the war in the Pacific. Many Australian and American soldiers came to Queensland. They needed new buildings and facilities quickly.
Brisbane's Role in the War
The city of Brisbane grew very fast during the war. It was the largest city in Queensland and the most northern big city in Australia. Because of this, military planning headquarters were set up in Brisbane. Important places for repairs, communication, and supplies were also here.
General Douglas MacArthur, who led the Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific, was based in Brisbane. General Sir Thomas Blamey, who led the Australian Forces, also used buildings in Brisbane. Because Brisbane was such an important place, it was a likely target for bombing. Fast action was needed to protect the people if air raids happened.
Building Shelters for Safety
The Brisbane City Council was in charge of Air Raid Precautions (ARP). This included setting up a system of Air Raid Wardens and fire fighting. They also built air raid shelters. On Christmas Eve, 1941, all Australian states were told to start building shelters right away.
The Premier of Queensland, William Forgan Smith, ordered the Brisbane City Council to build 200 public shelters. Work started quickly. Later, 75 more shelters were ordered. In the end, 235 air raid shelters were built. Most were finished by June 1942. The Council also built long covered trenches in parks. These trenches could hold many people.
Clever Design for Future Use
Frank Costello's Vision
Frank Gibson Costello was the Brisbane City Council's City Architect from 1941 to 1952. He was responsible for designing the public air raid shelters. Costello had a smart idea: he designed some shelters so they could be used for other things after the war.
He knew that if the shelters were not needed for air raids, they might just sit there and be useless. So, he planned them to fit into city improvement projects after the war. This was a very creative way to use resources during a difficult time.
Reusable Shelter Types
Costello's designs were modern for their time. They used simple shapes and strong materials like concrete. The reusable shelters were often built under fig trees to help hide them from enemy planes.
There were different types of these reusable shelters. One type was called the "park" shelter. These had four central pillars holding up the roof. This design allowed the outer walls to be removed after the war. Then, the shelter could become a simple shade structure in a park. The Stones Corner shelter is one of these "park" types.
Another type was called the "bus" shelter. These were designed so that three of their walls could be removed. This would leave a back wall and front pillars, making them suitable for bus stops.
What Happened After the War
Most of the buildings made for the war in Brisbane were removed when World War II ended. Things like saltwater pipes and sirens disappeared. Many standard air raid shelters in the city center were also taken down.
However, 20 of Costello's 58 reusable public shelters survived. This was because their outer walls were removed, just as he planned. This gave them a new purpose. The Stones Corner Air Raid Shelter had its blast walls removed after the war. You can still see where the walls used to be. Today, it has seats and a rubbish bin, making it a useful spot near a bus stop.
What the Shelter Looks Like
The Stones Corner air raid shelter is a rectangular building made of concrete. It has a strong floor and a flat roof. Concrete pillars support the roof. The floor, pillars, and ceiling are painted cream.
The shelter stands under a large fig tree. There are two seats and a rubbish bin attached to the floor. Part of the floor on the Logan Road side has been cut. You can see signs of two entrances on the southern side of the roof's underside. The shelter is located in front of the Stones Corner Library.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Stones Corner Air Raid Shelter is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for several reasons:
- Showing History: This shelter helps us understand how World War II affected people in Brisbane. It shows the efforts made to protect civilians during air raids.
- Rare Survival: Many air raid shelters were built during the war, but only a few are still standing today. This makes the Stones Corner shelter quite rare.
- Typical Design: Its strong build, rectangular shape, and location near people show what a typical public air raid shelter in Brisbane looked like during World War II.
- Smart Design: The shelter is now used as a seating area. This shows the clever original design idea to give it a second life after the war. It's a good example of how concrete was used in new ways during that time.
- Important Connection: This air raid shelter is a great example of the work done by the City Architect's Office during the war, especially the innovative designs of F.G. Costello.
