History Archives - Camp Columbia

Camp Columbia Army Huts ended up at Merthyr Bowls Club, at New Farm

At its peak the US Navy had almost 6500 personnel stationed in Brisbane during 1944. Of these 685 were commissioned officers. Brisbane offered few entertainment venues for visiting or stationed officers, and a decision was made by the Commander Service Force, Seventh Fleet to construct an Officers Mess. Through the Australian Army Hiring Service, the […]

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The untold Dutch chapter of Brisbane’s wartime history

While Brisbane’s role in World War II is often remembered in connection with the large American presence and the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur, few people today are aware of the significant Dutch wartime presence in the city—or the extraordinary fact that a foreign government operated from Australian soil during the final years of the

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Camp Meeandah – a key American logistics hub in Brisbane

During the Second World War, Camp Meeandah played a crucial but often overlooked role in Brisbane’s contribution to the Allied war effort in the Pacific. Located near Pinkenba, on the northern banks of the Brisbane River, it was developed as part of the United States Army’s Service of Supply (USASOS) network, which supported General Douglas

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Brisbane’s overlooked wartime legacy: the forgotten Allied capital of Australia

In Australia, the global significance of Brisbane’s role during World War II is still not widely understood. Most Australians know that American forces were based here, and some may recall the so-called “Battle of Brisbane.” But few realise that Brisbane served as the most important Allied military hub in Australia—home to dozens of Army, Navy,

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Forgotten allies: how Brisbane’s WWII history has faded from Dutch memory

Even in Brisbane, the global importance of the city’s role during World War II is largely unknown. While many locals are aware of the large American presence, few know that the Dutch also operated from here during the Pacific War. Even fewer in the Netherlands would be aware of the role their country played in

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NIGIS: the Dutch wartime voice from Brisbane

Among the many functions of the Netherlands East government-in-exile based at Camp Columbia in Brisbane during World War II, one of the most strategically significant—and least remembered—was the work of NIGIS, the Netherlands Indies Government Information Service. Operating in close cooperation with Allied information and propaganda units, NIGIS served as the Dutch government’s voice to

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Overlooked outpost: Brisbane and Camp Columbia in American WWII literature

Even in Brisbane, the global importance of the city’s role during World War II is largely unknown. Yes, most people are aware that large numbers of American troops were stationed here, and many will recall the so-called “Battle of Brisbane”—but for most, that’s the extent of their knowledge of Brisbane’s wartime significance. As I delved

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US Navy activities in Brisbane during the Second World War

During the Second World War, Brisbane served as a major Allied base in the Southwest Pacific Area, hosting General Douglas MacArthur’s General Headquarters (GHQ) and becoming the centre of a vast network of land, air, and naval operations. For the United States Navy, Brisbane was not just a staging point—it was the command and logistical

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UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) Blast Witness-Inala 1954

My family moved into a Housing Commission house in the new Inala in the early 1950s. We boys soon found that there was lots of small arms ammo round the area, remnants of the US Ammunition Dump. Finding it and extracting the cordite was a favourite pastime for the local boys, who spent hours combing

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Brisbane City Streets of Remembrance – Community Input Invited

The Camp Columbia Heritage Association (CCHA) supports the Brisbane City Council’s initiative to extend its Streets of Remembrance project. As part of this program, selected new signage of existing streets across the city will have Australian Defence Force, or Australian Navy, or Australian Air Force logos added on to the Street sign to honour significant Veterans, places,

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The Orliks of Boy Swallows Universe and the real migrant story of Camp Columbia

In Trent Dalton’s critically acclaimed novel Boy Swallows Universe, the reader briefly meets the Orlik family—refugees from war-torn Europe who found shelter at Camp Columbia. Though fictional, their story resonates deeply with the real experiences of thousands of families who passed through this significant site in Brisbane’s history. A place of transition and new beginnings

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Admiral Kinkaid and General MacArthur – a fragile wartime alliance

Admiral Thomas Cassin Kinkaid played a critical yet often underappreciated role in the Pacific Theatre during the Second World War. As commander of the United States Navy’s Seventh Fleet, Kinkaid found himself in a highly unusual position: a senior naval officer operating under the authority of an army general—General Douglas MacArthur—in the Southwest Pacific Area

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The 1944 US Military Pocket Guide to the Netherlands East Indies

In 1944, the United States War Department published a small but detailed booklet titled Pocket Guide to the Netherlands East Indies. Produced as part of a broader series of cultural guides for American troops deployed overseas, this 80 pages booklet was designed to familiarise servicemen with the geography, people, customs, and political structure of the

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SIGSALY: Brisbane’s role in top-secret wartime communications

During the Second World War, Brisbane played a vital role in one of the most extraordinary technological achievements of the 20th century: secure global voice communication. At the heart of this breakthrough was a system known as SIGSALY—a top-secret project developed by the United States to ensure that conversations between Allied leaders could not be

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Netherlands Ex-Servicemen and Women’s Association Queensland Branch

The Netherlands Ex-Servicemen and Women’s Association Queensland Branch Inc. (NESWA-Qld) was established in 1973 and incorporated in 1991. This organisation served as a community hub for Dutch ex-servicemen and women residing in Queensland, offering camaraderie, support, and a platform to honour their shared heritage and service. During WWII Camp Columbia became the seat of the

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Mission X: Australia’s Forgotten Fleet in the Pacific War – Exhibition at Bongaree

In the darkest days of World War II, as Japanese forces swept through the Pacific, an unconventional group of Australians found themselves at the heart of a daring and vital operation. Known as Mission X, this little-known fleet of small, civilian vessels was assembled under the US Army Small Ships Section, playing a crucial role

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Construction costs Camp Columbia £250,000

Peter Dunn came across this document from the ‘History of Base Section 3’. It provides interesting insights into the construction of Camp Columbia. Regarding ‘Base Section 3’, during World War II, the U.S. Army’s Services of Supply (USASOS) in the Southwest Pacific Area organised Australia into several base sections for administrative purposes. Base Section 3

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Wolston House – Wacol

This important part of local and Queensland history is now owned by the National Trust. On the river at Wacol, hay- way between Ipswich and Brisbane, it was established in 1852 by Dr Stephen Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Moreton Bay colony. During WW 11, part of the property was taken to build

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WWII Sites in Brisbane

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

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The Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) WWII – Established at Camp Columbia

During World War II, as the Japanese occupation swept through the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia), the Netherlands government-in-exile faced a daunting challenge: how to maintain control and provide administrative continuity in the occupied territory. Out of this necessity, the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) was born. Established in 1944 and operating initially from Australia,

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