This list is produced by Peter Rasey for the Australian American Ass. Qld. Division with the input and assistance of the late Sir Frank Moore AO, Don Cameron AM, and Rick Jefferies OAM.
CCHA has been given permission to publish this on their website and invite people to provide correction, updates or additions.
Peter Rasey is an author, podcaster and YouTube Channel CEO of Brisbane WWII stories.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOuZnqvsZqJWdp8w40441fA
“To understand the real depth and importance of the connection between WWII and Brisbane,
One just needs to reflect on; Queensland born, Ambassador to the USA Richard Casey lobbying for a Brisbane base 1939 to 1941, Pensacola Convoys arrival in Brisbane a Mere matter of days after Pearl Harbour, MacArthur grand arrival in Brisbane, the Battle of Brisbane between US and Aussie troops, the sad sight of unknown US soldier being loaded on the USAT Goucher Victory, the unveiling of the first “Australian American War Memorial”, the unveiling of the only “National Australia Remembers Freedom Wall” and the only WWII Australian Coastwatchers Memorial on Australian Soil.“
Peter A Rasey
The list has been compiled from research from OzatWar, Places of Pride, Register of World War II historic places Queensland and Monument Australia
Key sites
MacArthur Museum, – Pivotal
Australian American Memorial, – A first
See https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww2/display/92170-australian-american-memorial-
National Australia Remembers Freedom Wall, – Informative
WWII Galleries Anzac Square, – Inspiring
See https://www.anzacsquare.qld.gov.au/galleries/world-war-ii-gallery
HMAS Diamantina WWII frigate, – An action piece
See https://maritimemuseum.com.au/learn/collections/vessels/ww2-frigate-hmas-diamantina/
Newstead Submariners Walk Heritage Trai based around former WWII site, -By the river
See https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/97900-submariners-walk
Salisbury WWII War Industries Trail, – At the coal face
Tradecoast Central Interpretive Centre, – Flying high
“WWII Places” of Importance as statements of importance
Pensacola Convoy Place. A forever first.
See https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/120654-pensacola-convoy-place
Len Waters Place, Inspiring!
Australia Remembers Place. Moorooka highly informative.
See https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/110099-australia-remembers-1945-1995
Camp Coot-tha Place. Bombs away.
See https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/123030-camp-coot-tha
The Iconic Memorials and sites
Flag pole of note Victoria Park. Inspiring
https://heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au/heritage-places/1581#statement-of-significance
Wall of Signatures City Hall. The writing is on the wall.
Cathedral windows. Enlightening.
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/101363-australian-american-memorial-windows
Roma Street Parklands. Lest not we forget.
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90849-siege-of-tobruk
Battle front memories. Real jungle warfare.
Milne Bay Memorial Library & Research Centre | Monument Australia
New Farm Park. Sculptured to attract.
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92168-sandakan-prisoner-of-war-memorial
Newstead River Terrace Park. A tragedy remembered.
Rakuyo Maru Survivors | Monument Australia
New Farm Seventh Fleet officer’s hut. WWII Heritage up close and personal.
All Memorials listed by suburb with a ranking which is a WIP
Brisbane CBD
South Brisbane Railway Station Plaque arrival noted.
A Uniting Church Window of note.
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/103495-albert-street-uniting-church-memorial-window Rank 3
St John’s Cathedral
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/101363-australian-american-memorial-windows
Memorial Windows Rank 3
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/259630
All Hallows Stone Battle of Britain Memorial Rank 2
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/259628
New Guinea Memorial rank 4
City Hall
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/97332-brisbane-city-council-honour-roll Rank 3
WWII Signature Wall
Customs House
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90751-customs-house-roll-of-honour Rank 3
St John’s Cathedral
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90798-new-guinea-martyrs Rank 3
Grand Central Hotel
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/120645-no.-23-city-of-brisbane-squadron Rank 3
General Post office
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90811-postmaster-general%60s-department-honour-roll Rank 3
General Post office
308 Queen Street
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90794-queensland-national-bank-roll-of-honour rank 3
Central Rail Station
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/112999-queensland-rail-employees rank 3
Roma Street Parklands
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90849-siege-of-tobruk Rank 2
St John’s Cathedral
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/101367-st-john%60s-stone-of-remembrance
Rank 2
Port Office Hotel
Acacia Ridge WWII War Memorial
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/242516
Ashgrove
Ashgrove WWII Memorial Park Rank 4
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/25664
Archerfield
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90423-h.m.s.-nabsford Rank 2
https://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/place?id=35 Rank 1 features a memorial called the “WWII War Room” a must see.
Ascot
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/97314-allied-forces-intelligence-memorial
Rank 2 This Monument is at a location that could be developed in Brisbane’s “Bletchley Park” Museum. Near by is Nyrambla house in which the early version of the CIA had its Pacific headquarters.
Bald Hills
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/102036-memorial-arch Rank 3
Brighton
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90646-royal-australian-air-force-memorial Rank 2
Brisbane Airport
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90687-460-squadron rank 3
https://tradecoastcentralheritagepark.com.au/ Rank 1
Bulimba
WWII Royal Australian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Memorial
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/256646
Camp Hill
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/101907-camp-hill-district-honour-board Rank
Chelmer
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/107428-st-david%60s-memorial-hall Rank 2
Chermside
https://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/memorial?id=458 Rank 3
https://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/memorial?id=248 Rank 2
Coorparoo
Corinda
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/102422-39th-infantry-battalion Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/91232-kokoda-stone- Rank 2
Ekibin WWII War Memorial Park
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/257367 Rank 4
Everton Park
Geebung
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/91454-60th-anniversary-of-the-end-of-world-war-two Rank 2
Greenslopes
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/98817-2nd—7th-cavalry-regiment-honour-roll Rank 2
Bunker Museum
https://www.greenslopesprivate.com.au/About-Us/Our-History
Hamilton
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/91554-gateway-to-victory Rank 1
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/120654-pensacola-convoy-place Rank 1
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/113353-st-augustine%60s-world-war-two-memorial Rank 2
Herston
Smoky, the Dog n the Helmet, RBH
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/266006
Indooroopilly
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/122584-80th-anniversary-of-the-rats-of-tobruk Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/122585-witton-barracks-park Rank 2
Inala
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/104075-australia-remembers-1945-1995 Rank 1
Kangaroo Point
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/114975-h.m.a.s.-matafele Rank 2
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/110188-h.m.a.s.-moreton-honour-roll Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/110191-royal-air-force-memorial Rank2
Kedron
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/99546-queensland-cremation-memorial- Rank 2
Mitchelton
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/119518-80th-anniversary-of-the-siege-of-tobruk Rank2
Moorooka
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/110099-australia-remembers-1945-1995 Rank 1
Mt Coot-tha
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/123035-kokoda-track Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/119522-hibiscus-%22australia-remembers%22 Rank 3
Camp Coot-tha
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/123030-camp-coot-tha Rank 1
and Camp Coot-tha Infographic Memorial Stone Rank 3
New Farm
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92162-29th-brigade-memorial Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/102470-50th-anniversary-bombing-of-pearl-harbour Rank 1
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92163-9th-division Rank 2
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/102468-australia-remembers-1945-1995 Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/102469-australia-remembers-1945-1995 Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/104196-destroyer-squadron-4-the-australian-squadron Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92166-red-beret-international-memorial- Rank 1
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92168-sandakan-prisoner-of-war-memorial
Rank 1
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92164-the-allies-memorial
Rank 1
New Farm Allies War WWII War Memorial
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/120816 Rank 2
Newstead
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/119519-allied-submarines Rank 2
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92170-australian-american-memorial- Rank 1
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/100323-royal-australian-navy-corvette-memorial- Rank 3
https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/97900-submariners-walk Rank 1
Newstead Terrace Park
USAT Goucher Victory Memorial Sign
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0V6xrruq2lCWuDcc7soBp8smVCZadhz Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/122950-rakuyo-maru-survivors Rank 2
WIP Australian Coastwatchers Memorial Gazebo will be a WIP Rank 2
Northgate
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/114932-naval-association-of-australia-honour-board
Rank 3
Nudgee
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90474-banyo-roll-of-honour- Rank 3
Northgate
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92199-milne-bay-and-world-war-two-memorial-wall Rank 2 also https://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/memorial?id=945
Pinkenba
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92257-pinkenba-state-school-memorial-gates
Rank 3
Salisbury
South Brisbane
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92513-2nd—31st-infantry-battalion Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92514-allied-chinese-ships Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/104298-australia-remembers-1945-1995 Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/104299-fairmile-ships Rank 2
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/104301-south-brisbane-graving-dock Rank 1
The Queensland Maritime Museum has a number of WWII memorials of note within its walls, not all are listed above.
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/104311-st-andrew%60s-war-memorial-window rank 3
Spring Hill
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/103516-battle-of-the-coral-sea Rank 2
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/97343-brisbane-grammar-school-memorial-pool-Rank 3
St. Lucia
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/100276-australia-remembers-1945-1995 Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/97387-emmanuel-college-memorial-chapel Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/97461-university-of-queensland-roll-of-honour Rank 3
Tarragindi
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/100176-ekibin-memorial-park- Rank 3
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/110712-st-luke%60s-peace-memorial-church Rank 3
Toowong
Anzac Park National Defence Chaplains Memorial Grove
WWII Chaplains WIP Rank 4
Wacol
https://pngvr.weebly.com/the-museum.html
Wacol Military Museum has a very special and unique connection to WWII history with its displays and focus on the “New Guinea Volunteer Rifles” and their WWII activities.
This site includes the Camp Columbia Heritage Project.
https://campcolumbia.com.au/ Rank 1 jointly
Woolloongabba
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/108404-war-memorial-bell-tower Rank 2
Wynnum
Yeerongpilly
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/108261-70th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-el-alamein- Rank 3
Yeronga
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/92992-united-states-army-units Rank 2
Below is a video from Peter about WWII stories of Brisbane