Brisbane Timeline to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in the Pacific

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Brisbane in World War Two
by Dr Jonathan (Jack) Ford

Introduction
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, both in Europe and the Far East. From July 1942 to May 1944, Brisbane was the most important city in Australia during the war. It served as the headquarters for US General Douglas MacArthur’s South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) command, one of four theatre commands established for the Pacific War by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in March 1942.

Why MacArthur chose Brisbane
While Australia’s government was based in Canberra, its army, navy, and air force headquarters were located in Melbourne. General MacArthur found Melbourne too far from the action in New Guinea and opted to move closer to the war front. Townsville was considered but was deemed impractical due to communication limitations.

“He had intended to go still further forward to Townsville but the paucity of communications there made the project impracticable.”
— Colonel E.G. Keogh, The South West Pacific 1941-45 (Melbourne: Grayflower Publications, 1965), p.152.

Chronology

1939

  • 1 September – World War II begins with Germany’s invasion of Poland. RAAF No.23 Squadron arrives at Brisbane’s civil aerodrome in Archerfield.
  • 3 September – Australia, through Britain, declares war on Germany.

1940

  • 5 October – Chermside Army Camp opens for militia training.

1941

  • 10 March – Construction of the Rocklea Munitions Works begins.
  • 13 March – HMAS Townsville is launched at Evans Deakin shipyard, Kangaroo Point.
  • April – Lady Bowen Centre in Albert Park opens.
  • 30 June – HMAS Launceston launched at Evans Deakin.
  • 6 August – HMAS Broome launched at Evans Deakin.
  • November – Australia-Russian Association hosts “British/Russian Unity Against Nazism” rally at Brisbane City Hall.
  • 8 November – HMAS Ipswich launched at Evans Deakin.
  • November – Rocklea Munitions Works begins producing .303 ammunition.
  • 1 December – HMAS Bundaberg launched at Evans Deakin.
  • 8 December – Pacific War begins for Australia.
  • 17 December – Air Raid Precautions Central Control established in Roma Street Police HQ basement.
  • 22 December – Pensacola Convoy arrives in Brisbane. USFIA HQ established at Lennon’s Hotel in Queen Street.
  • 23 December – Qld Government orders construction of private air raid shelters.
  • 24 December – Public air raid shelters mandated by Qld Emergency Committee.

1942

  • 2 January – General George H. Brett takes command of USFIA.
  • 3 January – Brett relocates USFIA HQ to Melbourne.
  • 18 January – Brisbane designated a principal US supply port for blockade-running to MacArthur in the Philippines.
  • 30 January – HMAS Gympie launched at Evans Deakin.
  • 3 February – Greenslopes Military Hospital opens.
  • 4 March – Fort Cowan Cowan mistakenly fires on HMAS Tamar, killing three sailors.
  • 7 March – HMAS Kiama launched at Evans Deakin.
  • 17 March – MacArthur escapes to Darwin from the Philippines.
  • 21 March – MacArthur arrives in Melbourne to assume command of USFIA.
  • 30 March – Joint Chiefs of Staff establish SWPA Command under MacArthur.
  • 15 April – US Navy establishes submarine base at New Farm.
  • 16 May – HMAS Bunbury launched at Evans Deakin.
  • 20 July – MacArthur moves SWPA HQ to Brisbane, located in the AMP Building.

1943

  • 11 January – Fairmile B motor launch ML 815 commissioned at Norman Wright & Sons, Bulimba.
  • 14 May – Hospital ship Centaur torpedoed off Stradbroke Island.
  • 13 September – Eleanor Roosevelt visits Brisbane to meet US troops and MacArthur.

1944

  • April – US 6th Army HQ relocates to Dutch New Guinea.
  • 19 April – Fairmile B motor launch ML 827 commissioned.
  • July – Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile establishes at Camp Columbia, Wacol.

1945

  • 20 April – British Pacific Fleet takes over Brisbane submarine base.
  • 15 August – War in the Pacific ends.

Sources

  1. History of Queensland in WWII: www.ww2places.qld.gov.au
  2. National Archives of Australia (NAA): www.naa.gov.au
  3. Queensland State Archives: archivessearch.qld.gov.au
  4. Brisbane City Council Archives: elibcat.library.brisbane.qld.gov.au
  5. Australian War Memorial: www.awm.gov.au
  6. Queensland State Library: www.slq.qld.gov.au
  7. Trove: trove.nla.gov.au
  8. Australian Army Museum: Victoria Barracks, Petrie Terrace. Phone: 3223 4531.
  9. Queensland Military Memorial Museum: 28 Church Street, Fortitude Valley.

This comprehensive timeline highlights Brisbane’s pivotal role during World War II and provides resources for further research.

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