WWII RAN Fuel Installation, Edge Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WWII RAN Fuel Installation |
|
|---|---|
WWII RAN Fuel Installation, Edge Hill, 2008
|
|
| Location | Collins Avenue, Edge Hill, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1943 |
| Official name: WWII RAN Fuel Installation | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 2 February 2007 |
| Reference no. | 602605 |
| Significant period | 1880s, 1940s (fabric, historical) |
| Significant components | tank - storage, trees/plantings, embankment - railway, garage, bund/s, pump house |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The WWII RAN Fuel Installation is a special place in Edge Hill, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a huge fuel storage area for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. Built in 1943, it helped power ships and vehicles during the war.
Today, some of these old fuel tanks have been turned into the Tank Arts Centre. This is a cool place for art, music, and performances. It's a great example of how old buildings can be given a new life! The site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 February 2007, meaning it's an important part of history.
Contents
Tanks Arts Centre: From Fuel to Fun
The Tanks Arts Centre opened in the early 1990s. It's run by the Cairns Regional Council. You can find it right next to the beautiful Cairns Botanic Gardens.
This centre has lots of different spaces. There's a modern art gallery, a music venue, and a theatre. They host many events like concerts, plays, art shows, and even workshops for kids and adults. It's a busy hub for creativity in Cairns.
History of the Fuel Tanks
The former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Fuel Installation is about 5 kilometres north of Cairns city. It was built in 1943 during World War II. At that time, many soldiers and sailors were in Cairns. The war in the Pacific was happening, and Cairns became a very important military base.
The fuel installation had five big fuel storage tanks. It also had strong earth and concrete walls called "bunds" around the tanks. There were other small buildings and an underground pipeline. This pipeline carried fuel from the tanks all the way to the wharves in Cairns.
Many of these old structures are now part of the Flecker Botanical Gardens. Tanks 3, 4, and 5 have been cleverly reused as the Tanks Arts Centre.
Why Cairns Was Important in WWII
Cairns was a key port city. It was a good place to access the mining areas inland. When World War II started, Cairns became even more important. From late 1942, many military people arrived there. Building places to support the Allied war effort was a top priority. The decision to build these fuel tanks was made at the highest level of national security.
Choosing the Right Spot
At first, they thought about putting the fuel tanks near the wharves. But the Australian and United States navies needed more storage space there. So, they looked for a new spot.
In late 1942, two Australian Navy staff visited Cairns. They chose a site at Edge Hill. This spot was perfect because it could be hidden from the air. It would be hard for enemy planes to attack. It was also far enough from the port to keep the city safe if something went wrong.
The chosen site was on the southern slopes of the Mount Whitfield Range. This area included an old quarry and a recreation reserve. Three large concrete tanks and two large steel tanks were built there. They were ready for use by the Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy in 1943. They had planned to build up to eight tanks, but only five were finished.
Building the Tanks
The Allied Works Council was in charge of building these defence facilities. They prepared the site and built the tanks, other buildings, and the underground pipeline.
The first two tanks (Tanks 1 and 2) were made of steel. They were built on an old railway area. Tank 1 was even built where an old railway station used to be! These tanks were meant to hold diesel fuel.
Next to Tanks 1 and 2, a small pump house was built. An underground fuel pipeline was laid from here. It followed the old railway path and went under the streets of North Cairns to Trinity Wharf.
South of Collins Avenue, across from Tanks 1 and 2, a fire station (garage) and a foam tank were built. These were important for safety.
Tanks 3, 4, and 5 were built further west. They were on the old quarry site. This area needed more digging to make a flat space for the tanks. These tanks were made of reinforced concrete because they were for storing crude oil. Workers from Melbourne poured the concrete by hand. Some even wrote their names in the concrete walls around the tanks!
A second pump house was built near Tanks 3-5. Another underground pipeline connected to the first one. This old fuel pipeline still runs under North Cairns today.
Why Different Tanks and Locations?
The tanks were built in different spots for a few reasons:
- The landscape was tricky, and part of the hill had to be removed.
- Having the tanks spread out made the whole installation safer. If one part was attacked, the others might be safe.
- Existing trees and the natural shape of the land helped hide Tanks 3-5. Tanks 1 and 2 needed heavy steel cables and netting for camouflage.
After the War
After World War II ended, the government decided to keep the fuel tanks. They were still used for fuel storage by the Australian Navy and private companies. For example, Tank 1 was leased to Caltex, and Tank 2 stored molasses for a meat company!
In 1964, Tank 1 was rebuilt with a new roof. Tank 4 started leaking crude oil in 1976 and stopped being used. The Australian Navy used the remaining tanks until 1987.
In 1991, the Cairns City Council bought all five tanks. In 1995, Tanks 3, 4, and 5 were renovated and opened as the Tanks Arts Centre.
What the Fuel Installation Looks Like Today
The old WWII RAN Fuel Installation is built into the side of Mount Islay. It has five large fuel tanks (three concrete, two steel), earth and concrete walls (bunds), two pump houses, a fire station (garage), and a foam tank.
Tanks 1 and 2
These tanks are on the north side of Collins Avenue. They are round steel structures. Tank 1 has had some changes, like new floor panels and a new roof. Tank 2 is more original inside. It still has its old timber supports.
Around Tank 1, there's a concrete wall about 1.5 metres high. Tank 2 has an earth wall around it. A small pump house, made of stone, is near Collins Avenue.
Support Structures
On the south side of Collins Avenue, there used to be a fire station (garage) and a foam tank. The fire station was taken down in late 2006. The foam tank is a rectangular metal tank with a flat roof. It sits on a brick base.
Tanks 3, 4, and 5 (The Arts Centre)
These tanks are about 500 metres west of Tanks 1 and 2. They are reinforced concrete structures. This area is now the Tanks Arts Centre.
- Tank 3 is used for performances. Large openings have been cut into its walls for access and an outdoor stage.
- Tank 4 is in the middle and is used as an art gallery. It has new walls inside for displaying art. There's also a cool sculpture inside made from old timber logs and chains from Trinity Wharf. This shows the connection between the tanks and the port.
- Tank 5 is similar to Tanks 3 and 4, with new openings and a replaced roof.
A concrete wall about 1.5 metres high runs along Collins Avenue in front of the Arts Centre. It's covered with plants like trees and orchids, which make the area look beautiful.
Near the entrance to the Arts Centre, there's another old pump house. It's now used as the administration building for the centre. There's also a second foam shed nearby, which is now used for storage.
Why This Place is Special
The WWII RAN Fuel Installation is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a very important historical site.
- A Glimpse into Queensland's Past: This place shows how much World War II affected Far North Queensland. Its hidden location in the foothills of Mount Whitfield shows how important it was to keep naval fuel safe during wartime.
- A Rare Find: This fuel installation is one of the few surviving purpose-built naval fuel storage sites from World War II in an urban area. It's quite unique!
- Showing How Things Were Built: The tanks, pump houses, and walls show how these types of military fuel storage places were designed and built in 1943. Tank 2 is especially good for seeing the original features.
- It Looks Cool Too! The large, round tanks, with their old, rusting metal and concrete, have a special look. They are like industrial ruins in a green, urban setting. The big fig trees and orchids growing around them add to their beauty.
- Connected to Important Work: This site is linked to the Allied Works Council. This group did a huge job building defence facilities in Queensland during World War II, often in tough places.
